MANKATO, Minn. - The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team had its highest output during a WCHA game this season, but it wasn’t enough as the team fell 3-2 to Minnesota State University Friday night at All Seasons Arena.

The Beavers moved to 1-6-2 overall and 0-5 in conference action, and the Mavericks are now 5-3-1 and 2-2-1 in the WCHA.

Liz Orke gave Minnesota State an early lead with a power-play marker off assists by Maggie Fisher and Kala Buaganski 7:17 into the game, and Buganski gave her team a 2-0 advantage just three minutes later with assists from Holly Snyder and Fisher.

The Beavers took just five shots in the first period, but came out firing in the second despite being in the early hole.

After taking seven shots in the second, Erin Johnson (So., Farmington, Minn.) scored her third goal of the season off assists from Erin Cody (So., Roseville, Minn.) and Montana Vichorek (Fr., Moose Lake, Minn.) with just 22 seconds remaining in the period.

The Beavers allowed a third and decisive goal to Christina Lee off assists from Buganski and Jackie Otto 9:55 into the third frame, and that proved to be just enough to give Minnesota State the advantage it needed to take down the road squad.

Despite the two-goal disadvantage, Bemidji State never gave up, and even got back within one goal.

Cody scored an unassisted short-handed goal 16:14 into the third to move the score to 3-2. The marker was her second of the season and second in as many games. Cody also scored her first-career goal against Minnesota State, and she now has four points in five-career games against the Mavericks, making her the leading scorer on the team against MSU.

Johnson’s goal was her first-career marker against Minnesota State.

The Beavers fought hard to try and tie the game, but just fell short in the final seconds.

Bemidji State was 0-for-8 on the power play, but Cody netted the teams first shorthanded marker of the season. MSU was 1-for-5 on the man-advantage, and the Beavers have still allowed a power-play goal in every WCHA game this season. BSU was outshot by Minnesota State 34-22.

Cody notched her second multi-point game of the season and the third of her career, while Johnson recorded her sixth-career assist and Vichorek added her second-career helper.

BSU goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova (Fr., Bratislava, Slovakia) moved to 1-4-1 on the season after saving 31 shots in 59:19 of action.

Bemidji State will try to find its first win in conference action this season Saturday at All Seasons Arena when the Beavers wrap up the series with the Mavericks at 3:07 p.m.

--bsu--