BEMIDJI, Minn. - It was a case of the epic battle of David and Goliath tonight at the John Glas Fieldhouse as the Bemidji State University women’s hockey team played host to the two-time defending national champion University of Minnesota-Duluth.
From the drop of the first puck it was obvious why the Bulldogs are ranked No. 2 in all of women’s hockey and why they have been in the top three since the first polls of 2002-03 were released. The Bulldogs out shot a team that has not made the top ten even one time in the seven years of existence 53-13. With eight players on the ice with Olympic hockey experience, the balanced offensive attack of the Bulldogs was seen. Eight players contributed goals in the 9-0 shut out. Scoring one of those one player short.
The Beavers, however, did not just roll over. Bemidji State killed six of nine power plays and managed 8 shots on goal in the third period. But the Bulldogs were just too powerful. Of the 15 BSU shots on goal, only seven were legitimate scoring opportunities. The best of which was a 2-1 late in the first period when Carly Napier hit the breaking Lill Raynard, but Raynard’s shot would go just wide of the net.
BSU Head Coach Bruce Olson was disappointed with the play of his team but realized the talent level of the team the Beavers faced. “They are a skilled, fast, and strong team just as people said they are. We tried to give them a deferent look but they were still able to score. We did a nice job of killing penalties for the most part, but at times we just got caught standing and watching them over power us.”
The loss drops the Beavers record to 5-7-3 over all and 3-5-3 in the WCHA as Minnesota-Duluth brings their record to 14-1-2 and 10-0-1 in the WCHA The teams will back in action again tomorrow (Dec. 14) as the Beavers travel to Duluth, Minn. for the second half of the home and home series. The puck is set to drop at the DECC at 7:05 p.m.
Scoring Goal Asisst
1st 3:29 UMD Michelle McAteer (3) Unassisted
1st 5:45 UMD Jenny Potter (19) Krista McArther (15)
1st 11:23 UMD Jenny Hempel (4) Caroline Ouellette (15)
2nd 1:11 UMD Caroline Ouellette (8) Kristina Petrovskaia (4)
2nd 6:18 UMD Nevada Russell (4) Caroline Ouellette (16), Joanne Eustace (6)
2nd 15:11 UMD Hanne Sikio (6) Jenny Pottter (25)
3rd 1:21 UMD Michelle Mcateer (4) Hanne Sikio (15), Nevada Russell (11)
3rd 4:51 UMD Hanne Sikio (7) Jenny Potter (26)
3rd 5:04 UMD Kristin Petrovskaia (2) unassisted
Saves
UMD Patricia Sautter (44:01) - 5 BSU Jill Luebke (26:18) - 23
UMD Shannon Kasparek (15:59) - 8 BSU Bre Dedrickson (33:42) - 21
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