BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University women's hockey team fell to No. 9/8 University of Minnesota, 3-1, in the first game of its Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.

Sophomore Abby Halluska scored the lone goal for the Beavers (1-3-1, 0-1-0 WCHA) late in the third period to bring BSU within one but an empty-net goal by the Gophers (2-2-1, 1-1-1 WCHA) with three seconds remaining sealed the 3-1 victory for UM.

Despite the loss, the Beavers out-shot the Gophers 28-27 but couldn’t find a way to get that game-tying goal past Minnesota goaltender Sidney Peters who finished with 27 saves.

After a scoreless first period, Minnesota scored the first goal of the game 38 seconds into the second period when Grace Zumwinkle fired a shot past goaltender Erin Deters while on a Gopher power play. Neither team would add a tally during the remainder of the period but just 2:37 into the third, Minnesota extended its lead to 2-0 when Cara Piazza batted in a rebounded shot off the end-board.

It would take 10 minutes for the Beavers to respond and with an extra attacker, Halluska sniped a shot past Peters for her first goal of the season to bring BSU within one. Bemidji State was unable to even the score over the next seven minutes, and with constant puck pressure, pulled Deters in favor of the extra attacker with 1:35 left to play. BSU fired-off for four shots on net but Peters and the Gopher defense remained strong and with three seconds remaining, Taylor Wente fired the puck from the opposite end for the empty-net goal.

Peters finished with 27 saves for the Gophers to improve to 1-1-1 on the season while Deters stopped 24-of-27 shots to fall to 0-2-1.

Bemidji State and Minnesota will play the series finale tomorrow at 3:07 p.m.

For more information on the Bemidji State hockey program, 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 wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU 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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