DULUTH, Minn. - The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team received a superb effort from goaltender Emily Brookshaw (Sr. Webster, Wis.) in a losing effort as the Beavers fell 6-0 to the No. 3-ranked and Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season champion University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Friday night at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.

The first game of the first round of the WCHA Quarterfinals went to UMD, who attempted 53 shots.

The shots were the most ever against Brookshaw in a single game, and she matched her second-most saves ever in a game with 47. The previous high for shots faced happened, ironically, the first time these same Beavers traveled to Duluth earlier this season to face the powerful Bulldogs.

On Oct. 14, Bemidji State fell to UMD 4-0, and the Bulldogs attempted 51 shots with Brookshaw saving 47. That set her career mark for saves in a game until later in the season when she saved 50 against then-No. 2 Wisconsin in a 0-0 tie.

The goal spree started after Bemidji State was able to skate to a 0-0 tie after the first period.

Laura Fridfinnson scored a short-handed goal with assists from Haley Irwin and Heidi Pelttari just 55 seconds into the second, and after they got started, it was hard to slow down the offensive-minded Bulldogs.

Saara Tuominen and Myriam Trepanier each notched second-period goals with assists to Trepanier, Sara O’Toole, Tuominen and Elin Holmlov. Emmanuelle Blais put in two third-period goals, including the final goal with just 32 seconds remaining in the game. Karine Demeule also notched a third-period marker. Irwin, Fridfinnson (2), Erin Olson, Jocelyne Larocque and Tara Gray each recorded a third-period assist.

Bemidji State went 0-for-7 on the power-play and the Bulldogs were 1-for-6. The Beavers were outshot 53-13.

Minnesota Duluth played all three of its goaltenders. Kim Martin recorded the win after playing the first two periods and a chunk of the third, saving 10 shots. Johanna Ellison came on in relief and saved two shots, and Amie Meyer finished the game, saving one.

Tara Hiscock (Sr., Turtle River, Minn.) led the Beavers in the shot department with four. She and Haley Balcom (Sr., Elk River, Minn.) both played in their 142nd career game, taking over sole possession of the No. 1 spot in Bemidji State history. The previous record-holder for most career games played was Mandy Bambrough (2002-07) with 141.

Brookshaw played in her 109th career game, surpassing Laura Gieselman (SCSU, 1999-03) for sole possession of second place in WCHA history. She also has the opportunity in Saturday’s game to take over Gieselman in another category. If Brookshaw can save at least 46 shots, she will move into third place in conference history in that category.

As if that wasn’t enough, the 2008 Patty Kazmeier nominee has been on the ice for Bemidji State for a total of 6015:02. She has to play less than a minute of Game 2 to surpass another conference great. Riitta Schaublin (UMD, 2003-07) is in fifth place in WCHA history with 6015:41 of ice time. Brookshaw will most likely take over the fifth spot on that list Saturday.

The Beavers are now on the brink of elimination after dropping the first game of the series. Bemidji State (4-28-3, 1-25-3 WCHA) has to upset Minnesota Duluth (28-4-1, 24-4-0 WCHA) in Saturday’s contest in order to extend the series to a third game that would be played Sunday to decide who moves on to the WCHA semifinals.

The second game of the best-of-three series takes place at 7:07 p.m. Saturday at the DECC.

 

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