BEMIDJI , Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) - Minnesota State scored three goals in the first five minutes of the game but saw it’s lead slip away as the Beavers scored three unanswered goals of its own to earn a 3-3 overtime tie with the Mavericks. Bemidji State’s Emily Brookshaw (Webster, Wis.) made a relief appearance just 4:56 into the contest but was able to backstop the Beavers to the overtime tie.

Minnesota State started the scoring just 1:24 into the first period when Andreanne Thibault took a pass from Maggie Fisher and fired a shot from the point the beat Bemidji State goaltender Jessica Ptachick (Apple Valley, Minn.) for her second goal of the season. The Mavericks pushed it’s lead to 2-0 just 1:45 after Thibault’s goal, when Christina Lee skated around a Bemidji State defender and rifled a shot through the legs of Ptachick to give the Mavericks a 2-0 lead just 3:09 into the game. Maggie Fisher and Ida Clark picked up the assists on Lee’s goal.

The scoring for the Mavericks did not end there as Shera Vis scored her 10th goal of the season to push the Maverick lead to 3-0 just 4:56 into the period. Kala Buganski picked up the helper on the Mavericks third goal of the period.

After the Mavericks third goal Bemidji State pulled freshman goaltender Jessica Ptachick and brought in junior goaltender Emily Brookshaw in a relief appearance.

Bemidji State started it’s comeback when Kathleen Rosso was called for high sticking at 16:18 of the period to give the Beavers it’s second power-play opportunity of the game. The Beavers broke up the shutout just :59 seconds into the power-play when Kelly Hart (Ajax, Ontario) scored her six goal of the season to bring the Beavers within a 3-1 deficit. Kate Robinson (Shanty Bay, Ontario) picked up the lone assist on Hart’s goal.

The two teams skated into the first intermission with the Mavericks leading the Beavers 3-1.
The score remained 3-1 until 19:27 of the second period. Minnesota State went on the power-play at 19:23 of the third period but saw Bemidji State capitalize on a shorthanded break away opportunity. Kate Robinson (Shanty Bay, Ontario) passed the puck up ice to Tara Hiscock (Bemidji, Minn.) who was able to burry the puck in the upper right hand corner of the net for the Beavers first shorthanded goal of the season. This was Hiscock’s fourth goal of the season and her first short-handed goal of her career. The goal brought the beavers within a one goal deficit going into the second intermission.

The last time a Bemidji State player scored a shorthanded goal was on November 11, 2005 when Kate Robinson scored a shorthanded goal against Mercyhurst College.

It didn’t take the Beavers long to tie the contest up in the third period. The Beavers Nikki Eckebrecht (Hamilton, Ontario) would score the game tying goal at 1:02 of the third period with help from Kelly Hart (Ajax, Ontario) and Helena Tageson (Malmo, Sweden). This was Eckebrecht’s fourth goal of the season for the Beavers.

Both teams would have ample opportunities to net the game-winning goal but both Britni Kehler and Emily Brookshaw were up to the task and stopped the remaining shots that they each faced in regulation to send the game into overtime.

In the overtime session Bemidji State was able to record two shots to the Mavericks one, but neither team was able to net the game winning goal and the contest ended in a 3-3 overtime tie.

Brookshaw picked up the tie for the Beavers stopping 25 of 25 shots that she faced in 59:48 minutes of work moving her record to 9-15-5 on the season, while Ptachick stopped just three shots while allowing all three Maverick goals in just 4:56 of work.

Minnesota State goaltender Britni Kehler stopped 39 of 42 shots faced in all 65:00 minutes of work, moving her record to 14-12-2 on the season.

Bemidji State went 1-for-7 on the power-play while holding Minnesota State to 0-for-5 on the man-advantage.

Bemidji State (10-15-5 / 8-12-4 WCHA) will be in action next weekend as the Beavers will travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a weekend series. Faceoffs from Ridder Arena are set for 7:07 p.m. on Friday night and 3:07 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

--beavers--