BEMIDJI, Minn. (Sanford Center) -- The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 1 University of Minnesota Saturday afternoon at Sanford Center. The Beavers fall to 3-4-1 overall and 0-2 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play while the Gophers improve to 8-0-0 overall and 6-0-0 in WCHA action.

Following a 4-0 loss to the Golden Gophers in the series opener, Bemidji State found itself trailing again just 29 seconds into the first period. However, the Beavers responded to tie the game, 1-1, 2:18 later when Rachel Kelly (F, Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) set up Jenessa Phillipczyk’s (F, R-So., Stillwater, Minn.) first goal of the season. Megan Lushanko (F, So., Chisago City, Minn.) was also credited with an assist on the play.

BSU took a 2-1 lead at the 15:04 mark of the first when Lauren Miller (F, Fr., Brockville, Ontario) found the upper corner to cap a 2-on-1 scoring chance. It was only the fourth time this season that Minnesota has trailed in a game and the second in WCHA play.

Minnesota answered with eight seconds left in the period to tie the score, 2-2.

After being out shot in all three periods of last night’s contest, the Beavers outshot Minnesota 11-7 in the first frame.

In the second period, the Gophers controlled the tempo and it showed in the statistics. Minnesota out shot the Beavers 13-5 in the period. Bemidji State goaltender Brittni Mowat (Fr., Glenboro, Manitoba) had over twice as many saves as she did in the first (12-5). BSU’s defense stepped up as it blocked 11 more shots that did not get to Mowat. Leading the Beavers in blocked shots were Madison Hutchinson (D, Fr., Manitou, Manitoba) and Kayleigh Chapman (D, Jr., Virden, Manitoba) had two blocks each in the period.

The only scoring in the second stanza was by Minnesota’s Rachael Bona, as she scored her sixth goal of the season to take a 3-2 lead going into the final period.

With 4:08 gone in the final period, the Beavers once again tied the game with a goal from Hanna Moher (F, So., Milton, Ontario). It was Moher’s fourth goal of the season and her third in BSU’s last three games. The Beavers had a key opportunity as a penalty was called on the Gophers for hooking at the 6:50 mark, but Minnesota’s penalty kill was up to the challenge and did not allow a goal.

At the 12:46 mark of the third period, the Gophers scored what proved to be the game-winning goal as Hannah Brandt got one past Mowat for her second goal of the night, making the score 4-3. 

The Beavers had several standout performances in the game. Alex Citrowske (F, Jr., Savage, Minn.) had two assists on BSU’s three goals. Tess Dusik (F, Sr., Oak Bluff, Manitoba) also had an assist.

Hutchinson led a BSU defense that posted 27 shots on goal five, while Chapman and senior captain Alex Ehlert (D, Portage, Wis.) had four.

In between the pipes, Mowat collected 27 saves, but was saddled with the loss as her record drops to 3-4-1 this season.

Bemidji State will return to action next weekend as it hosts another WCHA rival in the University of North Dakota. The puck drops at 2:07 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday from the Sanford Center.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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