BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State University women’s hockey won game two of the WCHA series versus St. Cloud State today at the John Glas Fieldhouse. BSU’s offense exploded for a season-high six goals and 15 points. Sophomore Katie Ward led the scoring attack with four points, doubling her season output. She got the Beavers on the board early in the second period after the teams skated to a scoreless first period. “We needed someone to step up and that is exactly what Katie did today,” commented BSU head coach Bruce Olson. “She has great hands on her and is a great player.”

At the 13:04 mark of the 2nd, freshman Cassi Petsch put Bemidji State up 2-0 with her second goal in as many days. She was assisted on the play by Amber Fryklund and Lisa Peters. Just 20 seconds later the Beavers would again find the back of the net when Ward scored her second of the day with help from Sarah Zuelke. Betsy Hegland scored with 54 seconds remaining in the period as Ward added her first assist of the afternoon as BSU would take a 4-0 lead into the second intermission.

After the break the Beavers picked up right where they left off as BSU winger Kerri McEwen scored a power-play goal just 52 seconds into the period as Ward again added the assisting pass along with Jenny Schnickel.

The Huskies came right back and scored their only goal of the game at the 1:10 mark of the period when Abby Cooper scored her sixth goal of the season as Kobi Kawamoto added her second point of the series with the assist.

The Beavers would add one more goal when Nicky Kluck took a pass from Carly Napier and Peters and beat the St. Cloud State goaltender to bring the score to 6-1 and give the Beavers the much needed win.

Jill Luebke was in net for the Beavers and kept the team in the game in the early staged of the game. In the first and second periods she faced multiple odd man chances for the Huskies and fended every one of them away. She made a career-high 35 saves and allowed just one goal for the freshman’s second win of the season.

“Its amazing to see what happens when you come out hard and get pucks on the net. We were aggressive on every puck,” added Olson after the game. The win gave BSU its first series sweep at home since they played host to Wayne State Oct. 19-20, 2001. The win also puts BSU in sole position of third place in the WCHA and keeps their chance to make the WCHA Final Five alive. While it may limit the Huskies opportunities as they will now have to make up six points on the Beavers in just six games.

The victory brings BSU’s overall record to 7-9-6 and 5-6-5 in WCHA competition. The Beavers will end their current homestand Feb. 1-2 when the #3 University of Minnesota comes to the John Glas in the. Both games are set to begin at 1:05 p.m.

Scoring Goal Assist
2nd 03:55 BSU EV Katie Ward (4) Kerri McEwen (2)
2nd 13:04 BSU EV Cassi Petsch (2) Amber Fryklund (12), Lisa Peters (6)
2nd 13:24 BSU EV Katie Ward (5) Sarah Zuelke (4)
2nd 19:06 BSU EV Betsy Hegland (4) Katie Ward (2)
3rd 00:56 BSU PP Kerri McEwen (4) Katie Ward (3), Jenny Schnickel (1)
3rd 01:10 SCSU EV Abby Cooper (6) Kobi Kawamoto (5)
3rd 15:38 BSU EV Nicky Kluck (2) Carly Napier (2), Lisa Peters (7)

Saves
SCSU Brie Anderson (60:00) - 29 BSU Jill Luebke (60:00) - 34

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