JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Joey Moffatt had an explosive collegiate debut and teammate Jay Buchholz nearly matched him as the duo helped lead the way for the Minot State men's hockey team Friday night in the Beavers' season opener.

Moffatt scored twice and added an assist while Buchholz had two assists and a goal as Minot State skated past in-state rival Jamestown 4-3 at Jamestown University.
The two teams now head north to Minot where they play the second half of their home-and-home series at Maysa Arena on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

Jake Anthony finished with 25 saves in goal, making the offense explosion by Moffatt and Buchholz hold up.

Eric Soar added the fourth goal 5 minutes, 59 seconds into the third period off Moffatt's assist, giving the Beavers (1-0-0 overall) a 4-2 lead at the time.

Moffatt scored 3:24 into the game off Buchholz's first assist, but the Jimmies (0-1-0) answered late in the first, sending the contest into the break knotted 1-1.

Moffatt's second of his college career came with 7:25 left in the second period, and again was assisted by Buchholz, but the Jimmies answered just over 3 minutes later, tying it 2-2.

Buchholz broke the tie just 43 seconds later, though, off the first collegiate assist for freshman Christian Kadolph, sending the Beavers into the third period with a 3-2 lead.

Soar's goal 6 minutes into the third pushed Minot State in front by two goals and the Beavers hung on from there, despite surrendering a power-play goal midway through the final period.