PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team fell to Providence College, 4-1, in its opening game with the Friars (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Hockey East) Friday night in Providence, R.I. The Beavers (0-3-0, 0-0-0-0 WCHA) lone goal was scored by junior Abby Halluska, her first goal of the season.

Sophomore Kerigan Dowhy earned her second start of the season and allowed four goals on 25 shots to fall to 0-2-0 on the season.

The Friars didn’t waste time to get on the board and just 2:51 into the opening period Maureen Murphy scored her first goal of the season. Bemidji State would be unable to tie the game despite outshooting Providence 8-7 in the first period and just 1:04 into the second frame, Providence’s Meaghan Rickard extended the Friar’s lead to 2-0. Hayley Lunny added another goal for Providence just 3:08 later and after the first two period, BSU trailed 3-0.

The Beavers would respond in the third period however, and 6:40 into the final frame junior Abby Halluska scored her first goal of the season to pull the Beavers within two. Defensemen Kara Werth and Heather Olson would assist on the play with each earning their first points of the season. However, the Friars would regain their three-goal lead when Cassidy MacPherson scored her first goal of the season with just 7:11 remaining. The Beavers were unable to reach the scoreboard again in the game and fell, 4-1 in game one of its two-game series with the Friars.

The Beaves were stymied by Friars goaltender Madison Myers who stopped 26-of-27 shots by the Beavers in her first start of the season.

Bemidji State and Providence close out its two-game, non-conference series tomorrow afternoon when the two teams drop the puck from Schneider Arena at 2:00 p.m. EST.

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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