BEMIDJI, Minn. – For the third consecutive week, the Bemidji State University will face a top-10 ranked opponent as the Beavers (2-3-1, 0-2-0 WCHA) play host to top-ranked and defending National Champions Ohio State University this weekend. The Beavers host the undefeated Buckeyes (4-0-0, 4-0-0 WCHA) at Sanford Center Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 16 for a two-game series. Puck drop for game one is scheduled for 3:01 p.m., Saturday and then 2:01 p.m., Sunday.
 
Bemidji State Notes

• Bemidji State enters the second week of Western Collegiate Hockey Association play after falling in two games at No. 2 University of Minnesota this past weekend.
• After falling 0-6 in the first game, the Beavers were tied 1-1 with the second-ranked Gophers heading into the final 20 minutes of play but a three-goal, third period earned Minnesota the 4-1 victory.
• Senior Kate Boland scored the lone goal of the series for the Beavers for her first collegiate goal in 81 career games.
• She was assisted by Kayla Santl and Paige Anderson on the play with Santl already tying a career high with two points (2a) this season and Anderson tying a career high with three assists.
• The Beavers were out-shot 83-33 in the series with Hannah Hogenson stopping 73-of-83 shots for an .890 save percentage over the weekend.
• Bemidji State is led on offense by sophomore Adriana Van De Leest who has totaled four points (4a) in three games but has missed the last three games due to injury.
• She is followed by juniors Taylor Nelson (2g-1a), Gabbie Smith (1g-2a) and Paige Anderson (3a) who each have posted three points.
• Nelson, Vekich and freshman Raeley Carney lead the team with two goals with Carney pacing the team with her two goals on the power play.
• Van De Leest paces all BSU skaters with a +3 rating on the ice and is followed by junior Kayla Santl with a +1 rating.
• Bemidji State has scored on four of its 12 power-play opportunities this season to rank third in the WCHA with a percentage of .333.
• The Beavers' penalty kill has denied opponents of 17-of-21 chances, the most in the WCHA, and rank fifth in the league with a percentage of .810.
• Junior Gabbie Smith is fifth in the WCHA with 55 face-off wins and owns a .545 win percentage of the draw. She is followed by senior Paige Anderson who has won 51-of-106 attempts for a .481 percentage.
• Bemidji State is 29-50-13 when facing Ohio State and 17-20-7 when hosting the Buckeyes at home.
• In their last meeting, Bemidji State earned a series split with the then second-ranked Buckeyes at Sanford Center Feb. 11-12, 2022. In one of the most memorable games at Sanford Center, the Buckeyes pulled their goaltender with less than one minute remaining tied 2-2. Fifth-year senior Paige Beebe then fired the puck 175 feet down the ice into the empty net to claim the 3-2 victory for the Beavers.
• Bemidji State is led by senior Reece Hunt who has posted six points (1g-5a) in 10 career games versus Ohio State and is followed by Taylor Nelson (1g), Kayla Santl (1g), Paige Anderson (1a) and Kendra Fortin (1a) who have all recorded one point.
• Junior goaltender Hannah Hogenson is the lone netminder to have faced OSU and is 0-2-0 in two career games and has posted a .900 save percentage (72 saves) and 4.85 goals against average.

 
Ohio State Notes

• Ohio State enters the weekend's action as the top-ranked team in both the DCU/USCHO.com and USAToday/USAHockeyMagazine nationall polls.
• The Buckeyes sport perfect 4-0-0 (4-0-0 WCHA) record to start the season and boast a 14-game winning streak dating back to last season after winning the 2021-22 national championship.
• Ohio State's last loss came in a 3-2 game against Bemidji State on Feb. 11, 2022.
• The Buckeyes are led this year by Jennifer Gardner who has posted seven points (2g-5a) in four games while Paetyn Levis follows with six points (2g-4a).
• Ohio State has four players with five or more points this season in Gardiner, Levis, Gabby Rosenthal (4g-1a) and Sophie Jaques (3g-2a).
• Amanda Thiele leads the goaltenders with three games played and has posted a 3-0-0 record with a 2.33 goals against average and .863 save percentage. Raygan Kirk is the only other goaltender to see action and is 1-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and .867 save percentage.
• Ohio State owns a .375 power-play percentage (3-8) and .625 penalty-kill percentage (6-8).
• The Buckeyes have out-shot their opponents 162-66 this season and average 4.50 goals per game.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter or Instagram (@BSUBeavers), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).

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 Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
--bsu--