BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team dropped a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest 7-0 against the No. 2-ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday afternoon at John Glas Fieldhouse.

The Beavers fell to 1-9-2 overall and 0-8 in WCHA play, while Minnesota improved its record to 9-2-1 overall and 8-1-1 in conference action.

Bemidji State handled the Gopher attack well in the first two periods during Friday’s contest, but didn’t have the same luck this time around.

Jen Schoullis and Terra Rasmussen each scored goals in the first eight minutes of the game, and Minnesota never looked back. Kelli Blankenship, Chelsey Jones, Michelle Maunu and Gigi Marvin all recorded assists on the two goals.

BSU was outshot 18-2 in the first, and didn’t record its first shot until late in the period.

The Gophers shut down any thoughts of a Bemidji State comeback with two quick goals in the first minute of the second period. Emily West and Monique Lamoureux pumped in the markers, and Marvin, Jocelyne Lamoureux and Maunu all had assists on the goals. Blankenship added a third 9:31 into the second to make the score 5-0. Dagney Willey and Maunu assisted on the goal.

After having only two shots in the opening period, the Beavers fired 25 in the final two, but were never able to hit the back of the net. They even hit the post once in the final frame.

Annie Bauerfeld (So., Woodbury, Minn.), Nicole Rawlings (Jr., Maplewood, Minn.) and Erin Johnson (So., Farmington, Minn.) combined for 15 shots to lead the way for BSU.

Minnesota scored two final markers in the third to add insult to injury. Marvin and Rasmussen added the goals with assists going to Brittany Francis, Blankenship, and both the Lamoureux sisters.

All seven Gopher goals were scored even-strength.

The final tally read BSU 27, UM 53 in terms of shots. Bemidji State went 0-for-6 on the power-play but held Minnesota to an 0-for-5 performance with a man-advantage.

BSU goaltender Alana McElhinney (Fr., Calgary, Alberta) saw her first action since allowing nine goals to No. 1 Wisconsin Oct. 18. She only allowed seven goals this time, and saved a career-high 46 shots.

Bemidji native Sarah Erickson returned home for the first time since leaving town to join the Gophers, and was greeted by a BSU defense that never allowed her to record even an assist. She never scored this weekend, and was also ejected from today’s game due to a checking-from-behind major penalty that warrants an immediate ejection.

Bemidji State will head back to the road for the next two weeks, starting with a Nov. 21-22 series at St. Cloud State. The games will be played at National Hockey Center and will both begin at 2:07 p.m.

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