BEMIDJI , Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) - Bemidji State’s Kelly Hart (Ajax, Ontario) recorded a power-play goal late in the third to bring the Beavers back with in a one goal deficit with just under two minutes to play in regulation. The Beavers would be unable capitalize on a six on four power-play opportunity in the last :57 seconds of the game and would fall 3-2 to the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.

In the first period, Minnesota scored two unanswered goals 2:41 apart to jump ahead of the Beavers 2-0. Just under the five minute mark of the first period Andrea Nichols would put the Golden Gophers up 1-0 on her 10th goal of the season. Nichols would take a pass from Becky Wacker and squeek the puck through Bemidji State goaltender Emily Brookshaw’s (Webster, Wis.) legs. Picking up the other assist on Nichols goal was Whitney Graft.

Gigi Marvin would put the Golden Gophers up 2-0 just 2:41 seconds after Nichols goal. Bobbi Ross passed the puck up ice to Brittany Francis who found Marvin on the right wing. Marvin skated to the middle of the ice and shot the puck the through Brookshaw’s five hole to take a two goal advantage early in the contest.

Bemidji State would fight back to bring the score back to a one goal deficit before the first intermission. Lisa Kissick (Carmen, Manitoba) pick up the puck behind the Golden Gopher net and put a shot on net, the rebound came out to the left of the net and Jessica Tyra (Fridley, Minn.) burried the puck in the back of the net for her first collegiate goal. The lone assist on the goal went to Kissick, and the Beavers found themselves down by just a goal at the end of the first period.

Mandy Bambrough (Toronto, Ontario) was called for tripping at 7:19 of the second period, and Minnesota’s Whitney Graft took advantage of the power-play opportunity just :29 seconds later to push the Minnesota lead to 3-1. Helping on the Golden Gophers third goal was Jenelle Philipczyk and Anya Miller.

Through two periods of play Minnesota was out-shooting Bemidji State 25-to-18 and held a two goal lead, 3-1.

Melanie Gagnon was called for tripping at 17:39 of the third period, and Bemidji State’s Kelly Hart took advantage of the power-play opportunity just :32 seconds later to bring Bemidji State back within one goal. Nikki Eckebrecht (Hamilton, Ontario) took a shot from the point and Hart deflected it past Minnesota goaltender Kim Hanlon with 1:49 left in regulation.

Bemidji State pulled its goaltender at 1:06 left in the third to create a six on five man-advantage. Minnesota’s Dagney Willey took an interference penalty at 19:03 left to give the Beavers a six on four power-play opportunity for the final :57 seconds of the game. Hanlon remaind strong between the pipes and would shut down the Beavers to hold on to a 3-2 victory for Minnesota.

Brookshaw saved 31 of 34 shots faced, including 10-of-10 in the third period, but it was not enough and her record fell to 3-10-2 on the season.

Hanlon saved 25 of 27 shots faced in her first action of the season for the Golden Gophers improving her record to 1-0-0 on the season.

The teams drew a combined 11 penalties, four minors on Minnesota and seven minors on Bemidji State. Minnesota went 1-for-7 on the power-play while the Beavers went 1-for-4 on the man-advantage.
Minnesota out-shot Bemidji State 34 to 27 for the game.

Bemidji State fell to 4-10-2 overall with this afternoon’s loss and 2-7-1 in WCHA play, while Minnesota improved to 12-3-1 and 9-2-1 in WCHA play. BSU will continue WCHA play next weekend, Dec. 8-9, when it will travel to Mankato, Minn. to take on Minnesota State in a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series. Faceoffs are set for 7:07 p.m. on Friday and 7:37 on Saturday from All Seasons Arena in Mankato, Minn.

--beavers--