BEMIDJI, Minn. - After almost a month off, the BSU hockey team was back in action tonight as it took on the Mavericks of Minnesota State-Mankato. The Beavers got out to an two-goal lead but would see the Mavericks score the last two goals of the game as MSU-Mankato would play the Beavers to a 2-2 tie.

Lill Raynard led the way for the Beavers tonight scoring two goals. She got Bemidji State on the board at the 16:52 mark of the first period when she scored a short-handed goal from Amber Fryklund and Lisa Peters to put BSU up 1-0. The goal would put an end to a streak in which the Beavers had shut out previous three games. It also marked the first time in more than six games that the Beavers were able to score on the power play, putting an end to the longest drought of the sort in the history of BSU women’s hockey.

Raynard would again spark the Beaver offensive attack in the second period when she scored a short-handed goal to give the Beavers two-goal lead with less than ten minutes to go in the second period. But MSU-Mankato would pull within one when Tristin Stephenson would tip the pass from Lindsay McCulloch for a power play goal just 11 seconds later.

Bemidji State out shot MSU-Mankato 9-5 in the third but the Mavericks came up with the one that mattered when Andrea Jensrud beat Anik Coté at the 4:06 mark of the period to knot the game at 2-2. Though the Beavers had chances to score in the final moments of the game they were not able to score and looked to the overtime period to decide the contest for the fifth time this season.

In overtime Bemidji State again had scoring opportunities but were not able to find the back of the net as the and would tie its WCHA opponent for the fourth time this season. The Beavers are now 5-8-5 over all and 3-6-4 in WCHA competition.

After the game BSU head coach Bruce Olson commented, “We are just not hungry enough and don’t have enough goal scorers. We need to bear down when we get the lead to get the win.” Although the coach was frustrated with the tie, there were some positives. “Lill Raynard is really coming on. She is a smart player, with good hands. It was good to see her have a good night.”

The teams will attempt to decide the series when they meet tomorrow afternoon at 4:35 p.m. in the John Glas Fieldhouse.    

Scoring Goal Assist
1st 16:52 BSU Lill Raynard (4) Amber Fryklund (9), Lisa Peters (5)
2nd 10:28 BSU Lill Raynard (5) Kerri McEwen (1)
2nd 10:39 MSUM Tristin Stephenson (4) Lindsay McCulloch (5), Amber Sharratt (4)
3rd 4:06 MSUM Andrea Jensrud (2) Lyndsay James (2)

Saves
MSUM Shari Vogt (65:00) - 37 BSU Anik Coté (65:00) - 32

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