ST. CLOUD, Minn. (National Hockey Center) - Bemidji State rode a standout performance from junior goaltender Emily Brookshaw (Webster, Wis.) who tied a personal best with 45 saves to help the Beavers salvage a 2-2 overtime time with the St. Cloud State Huskies. Bemidji State built a 2-0 lead going into the third period but saw St. Cloud State record two unanswered goals in the final frame to send the game into overtime.

Bemidji State picked up the game’s first goal on Lisa Kissick’s (Carman, Manitoba) second marker of the season to give the Beavers it’s first lead of the weekend over the Huskies. Kissick had help from Mandy Bambrough (Toronto, Ontario) and Jessica Pullar (Elk River, Minn.) to give the Beavers an early lead at 17:01 of the first period.

Despite being out-shot 12-to-8 in the period the Beavers were able to skate into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead behind outstanding goaltending from Brookshaw.

The Beavers increased it’s lead to two goals when Helena Tageson (Malmo, Sweden) notched her team leading ninth goal of the season with help from Kelly Hart (Ajax, Ontario) to put the Beavers up 2-0 at 19:54 of the second period. This was Hart’s team leading 12th assist of the season. The assist give’s Hart her 96th point as a Beaver and puts her one point away from tying Lill Raynard for second place in career points with 97.

Bemidji State once again was out-shot in the period, this time 15-to-9. Behind Brookshaw’s play the Beavers were able to hold a 2-0 lead going into the final period. Through two periods of play Brookshaw had saved all 27 shots that she had faced.

St. Cloud State would mount a comeback in the third period. The Huskies broke up the shutout at 5:17 of the third period when Laura Fast notched her eighth goal of the season. Helping on Fast’s goal was Megan McCarthy and Brita Schroeder. Fast’s goal brought the Huskies to within a 2-1 deficit.

Ashley Leopold (Afton, Minn.) was called for tripping at 6:36 of the period to give the Huskies a power-play opportunity. The Huskies took advantage of the of the extra man opportunity as Meaghan Pezon notched the game tying goal 1:36 seconds into the Huskies power-play to tie the contest at two goals apiece. Helping on the game tying goal was Laura Fast and Megan McCarthy. The two teams would skate to a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation to send the game into an overtime session.

In the extra frame the Huskies came out firing as St. Cloud State out-shot the Beavers 7-to-1. Brookshaw continued to be solid in net for the Beavers as she stopped all seven shots in the extra frame to help the Beavers hold on to a 2-2 overtime tie and gain one point on the weekend in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings.

St. Cloud State goaltender Lauri St. Jaques stopped 21 of 23 shots faced in 64:57 minutes of work, and saw her record move to 5-5-1 on the season for the Huskies.

The teams combined for 20 minor penalties in the contest. BSU took 13 penalties and managed to kill eight of the nine power-play opportunities for the Huskies, while St. Cloud State drew seven minor penalties and held BSU to 0-for-3 with the man-advantage. Brookshaw was stellar in goal, saving at least 11 shots in all three periods including seven shots in the overtime session. She turned away 12 of 12 shots faced in the first period, 15 of 15 shots faced in the second period, 11 of 13 shots faced in the third period and all seven shots faced in the final frame. She played a 65:00-minute complete game and with
the tie saw her record move to 9-14-4 on the season.

Lauri St. Jaques stopped 21 of 23 shots faced for the Huskies. With the tie St. Jaques record moved to 5-5-1 on the season.

With the tie Bemidji State is now 15-17-5 all-time versus St. Cloud State and 6-9-3 at the National Hockey Center.

Bemidji State (10-14-4 / 8-11-3 WCHA) will be in action next weekend as the Beavers will entertain Minnesota State for it’s final weekend series of the 2006-07 season. Faceoffs from the John S. Glas Fieldhouse are set for 7:07 p.m. on Friday night and 2:07 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

--beavers--