BEMIDJI, Minn. - It took an outstanding performance from the goaltender and the most goals scored in a single game all season, but the Bemidji State women’s hockey team won its first game of the season 3-2 Friday night at John Glas Fieldhouse in the first-ever meeting with Robert Morris.

The game started off slow, with neither team able to notch a first-period goal. BSU outshot RMU 10-5 in the opening frame, but couldn’t find the net in the early going. There were five penalties called between the two teams, but they were unable to convert on their respective power plays.

That was until Kylie Rossler of RMU was called for interference with 44 seconds remaining in the first.

Bemidji State took the opening faceoff of the second period, and proceeded to pass the puck around the outside trying to set up a goal opportunity. Ashley Leopold (So., Afton, Minn.) dished it off to Franny Dorr (So., Roseville, Minn.) on the right side along the blue line. Dorr passed it back to Leopold who was still waiting at center ice, and she fired a shot in the upper right-hand corner of the net, zooming past Colonials and Beavers along the way.

The goal was scored 41 seconds into the second period and was just the second power-play goal of the season for Bemidji State. The Beavers came into the game 1-of-50 on the man advantage this season. They would finish the game 1-for-4. The goal was even more of a surprise considering the Colonials had killed 53 of the last 60 opposing power-plays faced, which was ninth in the country.

Julie Rising (Fr., Millbrae, Calif.) was the next Beaver to get in on the action. She stole the puck at mid ice and scored an unassisted goal 2:27 into the third period, putting BSU ahead 2-0.

Less than a minute later, 3:15 into the third, Keeta Koalska (Fr., Forest Lake, Minn.) scored a goal by rebounding a missed shot from Eva Schwaerzler (Fr., Dornbirn, Austria). The goal was the first of Koalska’s career, making her the sixth BSU freshman to score a goal this season. Schwaerzler notched her second assist in as many weeks, helping out on a goal last weekend at Niagara.

With the game intact and BSU ahead 3-0, it appeared as if the team would cruise to its first victory.

This was the largest lead the Beavers had all season, and they found out the hard way that wins don’t come that easy.

In a frantic few minutes filled with BSU penalties and RMU goals, Sara O’Malley and Kristen Miles each scored power-play goals to try and bring the Colonials back. O’Malley’s goal came at the 14:05 mark and was her eighth of the season. She was assisted by Whitney Pappas (fourth assist of the season) and Jacki Gibson (second). Miles’ goal came with just 2:12 remaining in the game, and was her second of the year. It was assisted by Rossler (third) and Megan Picinic (fifth).

With just 1:23 remaining and both teams at full strength, Robert Morris pulled its goaltender to try and notch a game-tying goal. BSU was able to fend off many late attempts, and the Beavers (1-8-2, 0-7-1 WCHA) held on for their first win of the season.

The victory ended the longest winless drought in BSU history, which stood at 15 games dating back to last season.

“It’s nice that we found a way to win a hockey game,” coach Steve Sertich said. “This is a good win for the girls because they played hard. We’ve played in a lot of close games this season, and it’s great to finally win a close one.”

Emily Brookshaw (Webster, Wisc.) was phenomenal in net for the Beavers, nearly pitching a shutout. She would have gotten that shutout had it not been for a few penalties late in the game that allowed the Colonials to score those two power-play goals. Brookshaw finished the game with 24 saves, and it turned out the Beavers needed every single one of them.

“She’s been outstanding for us since I’ve been here and tonight she was even more fantastic,” Sertich said. “She made a save at one point in the game that I thought was an NHL-type save. That’s how good she was for us tonight.”

She now has 21 career wins for BSU, five away from tying the all-time record set by Bre Dedrickson (1999-2003).

Brianna McLaughlin (4-7-1) played all but the last 1:23. She had 23 saves in the contest and was credited with the loss.

Leopold’s goal was her first of the season, the second-career power-play goal of her career and her third career goal. Her last goal came Nov. 18, 2006 in a game against Wisconsin. Dorr’s assist gives her two for her career, with her last one coming on Feb. 4, 2007.

Rising must like the home crowd because she has scored three goals this season, with all of them coming in BSU’s three home games. Friday’s goal was the first for Rising since she scored two goals in her first two collegiate games back on Oct. 5-6, 2007, against Minnesota State, Mankato.

Robert Morris (5-7-1, 0-2-0) is now 0-8-2 all-time against teams from the WCHA. The loss to BSU also snaps a four-game win streak for the Colonials.

Bemidji State will look for its first series sweep of the season Saturday evening when the Beavers travel to Grand Rapids, Minn., for another home contest with the Colonials. The game will begin at 6:07 p.m.

NOTES: The two teams tied with 26 shots on net...RMU was 2-9 on the power play...Rising and Erin Cody (Fr., Roseville, Minn.) combined for 11 shots, leading all Beavers...Rising, Monica Rawlings (Jr., Maplewood, Minn.) and Cody combined to go 15-10 on faceoffs...Tara Hiscock (Sr., Turtle River, Minn.) was 7-for-13...The two teams went 28-of-28 on faceoffs.

--bsu--