DULUTH, Minn. – The Bemidji State University women's hockey team fell 4-0 to No. 10 University of Minnesota Duluth in their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series opener Friday night in Duluth, Minn. Bemidji State falls to 13-11-1 on the season and 7-8-0 in league play and marks the second consecutive game the Beavers were held scoreless against the Bulldogs (10-8-3, 5-6-2 WCHA).

Bemidji State outshot Minnesota Duluth 30-27 in the game but goaltender Maddie Rooney held the Beavers off of the scoreboard for the second consecutive game.

Minnesota Duluth wasted no time to get on the scoreboard when Ashton Bell scored her eighth goal of the season just 25 seconds into the opening period. The Bulldogs struck again just before the period ended when Anna Klein scored with just 31 seconds remaining and gave UMD a 2-0 lead despite the Beavers holding a 9-6 shot advantage.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second period but 8:19 into the final period, Minnesota Duluth extended its lead to 3-0 when Taylor Anderson scored her second goal of the season. Bemidji State pulled goaltender Lauren Bench late in the period looking to break the shutout but the Bulldogs took advantage and Gabbie Hughes netted the empty-net goal with 3:04 remaining to seal the 4-0 victory and earn three points in the league standings.

Only three penalties were called in the game, all against UMD, but the WCHA’s third best penalty kill held the Beavers empty on all three chances.

The Beavers will try to earn the series sweep tomorrow afternoon when the two teams meet again at 4:07 p.m.

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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