BEMIDJI, Minn. - For the second time in three weeks, the Bemidji State women’s hockey team jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead.

But, just as before, the Beavers gave up multiple goals to lose the game, this time in a 6-3 loss against Ohio State University Friday night at John Glas Fieldhouse.

Jessica Pullar (Sr., Elk River, Minn.) got BSU on the board 8:53 into the first period by pumping a rebound into the back of the net.

Erin Cody (Fr., Roseville, MInn.) assisted on Pullar’s goal, and then scored a power-play goal of her own just 2:51 later off assists by Ashley Leopold (So., Afton, Minn.) and Julie Rising (Fr., Millbrae, Calif.).

Erin Keys netted a goal for Ohio State at the 14:30 mark off assists from Mallory Peckels and Lisa Chesson, and the Beavers were able to fend off the other 19 shots of the period to skate into the first intermission with a 2-1 advantage.

After giving up a late goal to Jenna Kilpatrick at the 15:41 mark of the second stanza, it looked as if BSU would be able to get into the second intermission with a 2-2 tie, with the chance of netting a game-winner in the third frame.

The Buckeyes decided that would not be the case.

Keys and Jody Heywood both scored goals with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period, eight seconds apart, and Ohio State led 4-2 at the break. Tessa Bonhomme, Shannon Reilly, Hayley Klassen and Morgan Marziali assisted on the two go-ahead goals.

Keys was able to find the net four minutes into the third frame for the third hat-trick allowed by BSU this season, and she was assisted by Marziali and Bonhomme.

After giving up all the goals, Pullar was able to flick the puck into the back of the net for her second goal of the game at the 10:10 mark off assists by Jackie Robertson (So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Leopold, and the Beavers’ attempt at a comeback was on.

Ohio State went into the penalty box with less than two minutes to play, and BSU pulled the goalie for an extra 6-on-4 advantage. Unfortunately, just as Emily Brookshaw (Sr., Webster, Wis.) was leaving the ice, Klassen stole the puck and rifled a shot from the OSU into the empty net. Rachel Davis assisted on the dagger by the Buckeyes.

Brookshaw saved 38 shots and gave up five goals in all but two seconds of play. Liana Bonanno recorded the win after allowing three goals and saving 22 shots.

Even with the loss, the Beavers skated hard and played excellent for long stretches of the game. The three goals were the second-highest total scored by BSU in conference play this season. Bemidji State has played Ohio State three times this season and has allowed six goals in all three contests.

The Buckeyes outshot BSU 44-25, and both teams went into the penalty box five times for 10 minutes.

OSU ended the game 2-of-4 on the power play, with one short-handed goal, and the Beavers were 1-for-4 on their man-advantage opportunities.

Pullar recorded her third-career two-goal game, and the first since Feb. 3, 2006. Leopold recorded her first-career multi-assist and multi-point game. Cody recorded her second-career multi-point game, and her first in conference play. Robertson scored her first-career goal on Feb. 2 of this season, and she added her first-career assist.

The regular-season finale will take place Saturday at 2:07 p.m., with the five graduating seniors being honored before the game starts.

 

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