MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – Bemidji State University women's hockey sophomore Gabbie Smith scored the Beavers' lone goal and the first of her collegiate career as University of St. Thomas salvaged a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series split with a 2-1 victory Saturday afternoon. The Beavers fall to 1-1-0 (1-1-0 WCHA) to start the season while the Tommies earned their first win as a Division I women's hockey program and improve to 1-3-0 (1-3-0 WCHA).

Smith opened the scoring in the game with the first goal of her collegiate career just 1:19 into the opening period after receiving a centering pass from junior Reece Hunt for a quick snap shot. Bemidji State entered the first intermission with the one-goal lead but St. Thomas responded in the second period when Maija Almich scored the Tommies' first goal at home as a Division I program at 7:06 of the period.

The score remained tied entering the final period and each team battle to score the go-ahead goal. St. Thomas would win the battle and with 6:54 remaining, Luci Bianchi netted the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal.

Bemidji State out-shot St. Thomas 29-25 but freshman goaltender Saskia Maurer bested the Beavers in her first collegiate start by stopping 28-of-29 shots. BSU's Kerigan Dowhy earned her first loss of the season after stopping 23-of-25 by UST.

The Beavers earned three power plays during the game but came up empty on all three chances to fall to 0-for-6 with the extra skater on the season. BSU's penalty kill however, stopped two power-play chances by the Tommies and improves to 5-for-5 this season.

Bemidji State will have next weekend off from action and returns to play Oct. 15-16 by traveling to Columbus, Ohio to face Ohio State University. 

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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