ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Erin Johnson (Fr., Farmington, Minn.) scored her first career goal in the Bemidji State women’s hockey team’s 3-1 loss to No. 9/10 St. Cloud State University Saturday afternoon at the National Hockey Center.

Megan McCarthy scored the first goal of the game 13:23 into the second period to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead off assists by Jenaca Fredheim and Sammy Nixon.

Johnson tied the game with her first goal 4:54 into the third period on a Bemidji State power play with an assist from Julie Rising (Fr., Millbrae, Calif.). It was just the second time this season BSU had scored on a power play against a Western Collegiate Hockey Association opponent.

With the score tied deep in the game, the next goal would surely win it. Unfortunately for the Beavers, they were unable to find that goal.

The game-winner belonged to Meaghan Pezon, who scored with 5:29 remaining in the game off assists by Caitlin Hogan and Felicia Nelson. Any chances of a comeback were thwarted when Amy Currier put the game out of reach just 27 seconds after Pezon’s goal. Michelle Moen and Brita Schroeder assisted on Currier’s back-breaking goal.

Emily Brookshaw (Sr., Webster, Wisc.) had 30 saves for the second-straight game in net for Bemidji State, and Ashley Nixon earned her second win of the season against BSU after saving 14 shots and allowing the one goal to Johnson.

Bemidji State (3-16-3, 0-14-2 WCHA) regressed from the first game of the series in the shot department, attempting only 15 while allowing 33 for St. Cloud State (12-5-3, 9-5-2 WCHA).

The Beavers did, however, continue to lead in the power-play opportunities. BSU was sent to the box only four times, and shut out the Huskies on their man-advantages, 0-for-4. Bemidji State was 1-for-5 on its power-play chances.

Johnson became the seventh (out of eight) freshman to net a goal this year, and Rising recorded her first career assist.

Rising has now tied with Erin Cody (Fr., Roseville, Minn.) for first place on the team with five points this season.

Ashley Leopold (So., Afton, Minn.) missed Game One of the series, only to return in the second game and lead the team in shots with four. Cody had three, and no other Beaver had more than two.

This was the first time in school history that Bemidji State had failed to defeat St. Cloud State in at least one game in the season series. The Beavers now move to 15-21-5 all-time against the Huskies.

Bemidji State returns home next weekend (Jan. 11-12) for a two-game series with North Dakota. The Fighting Sioux ended BSU’s six-game win streak in the earlier matchup this season, and the Beavers will be looking to start another win-streak when they entertain their guests at John Glas Fieldhouse. Game times are set for 7:07 p.m. and 2:07 p.m., respectively.

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