To be the best, you have to beat the best.

It’s a saying used throughout the sports world, uttered by players and coaches alike.

While the Minot State men’s hockey team can’t officially take the title from the defending ACHA Division I champions until the National Tournament in March, the Beavers let UNLV know that they are a threat to its crown, knocking off the top-ranked Rebels, 4-2, at Maysa Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in a battle of the top-two teams in the ACHA.

The second-ranked Beavers scored a pair of goals in the opening period and received goal contributions from four different skaters, as the four goals allowed tied for the most the Rebels have conceded this season. In the process, Minot State handed UNLV its first loss to an ACHA opponent this season. The Rebels dropped a pair of exhibition games to NCAA Division I opponents earlier this year.

The Beavers (5-0-1) opened the scoring at 9:30 of the first period on a goal by Logan Rands. His first couple shot attempts during the shift were blocked aside by UNLV goaltender Douglas Wakelyn, but he eventually slipped one past with a floater from the slot from a pass from Colby Joseph.

Power plays were at a premium for both teams all game, with many offsetting penalties resulting in 4-on-4 hockey. However, when the Beavers got their chance with the man advantage, they took advantage. Minot State scored on its first attempt of the night following a boarding penalty by UNLV’s Mason Kelly. Less than 30 seconds into the penalty, Brett Tataryn netted his third goal of the season on a deflection in front of Wakelyn. Tataryn planted himself on the outside of the crease and got his stick blade on a shot attempt from Christian Kadolph to give the Beavers a 2-0 lead.

The Rebels (6-1-0) got on the board at 7:12 of the middle stanza when Brady Estabrook lit the lamp, but the Beavers reclaimed the two-goal lead late in the frame with Logan Cyca’s first tally of the season. Cyca took a cross-ice pass through the crease from Matthew Yakubowski and fired a shot on net that deflected off the pads of Wakelyn, but ricocheted into the back of the net.

A second power-play goal from the Beavers at 8:03 of the third period from Joseph ensured Minot State’s victory over the top-ranked team in the ACHA and its sixth over a ranked opponent already this season. Joseph finished with a goal and two assists for a three-point night. Kadolph and Yakubowski each had a pair of assists.

The Beavers held a 28-23 edge in shots on goal.

Minot State goaltender Will Dyke picked up the victory, making 21 saves. He helped kill off an early 5-on-3 penalty kill spanning 49 seconds in the first period. Wakelyn suffered the loss for the Rebels in a 24-save performance.

The Rebels committed seven penalties for 27 minutes, including a spearing major and game misconduct assessed to UNLV’s Health Mensch late in the third period to end any chance the Rebels had for a comeback.

The Beavers finished 2-for-5 on the power play.

Minot State and UNLV haven’t seen the last of one another, as the two teams will meet during the ACHA Showcase in Romeoville, Ill., on Friday, Nov. 21. But up next for the Beavers is a rivalry matchup with U-Mary on Friday, Oct. 31, at Maysa Arena at 7:30 p.m.