BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University women's hockey team earned its first Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory of the season Friday afternoon after defeating Minnesota State University, Mankato 2-1 at Sanford Center. The Beavers (3-7-1, 1-6-0 WCHA) earned the 2-1 victory over the Mavericks (2-7-0, 2-7-0 WCHA) after sophomore
Shelby Breiland scored her first career goal and senior
Reece Hunt netted the game-winning goal.
Junior goaltender
Hannah Hogenson was named the game's first start after denying multiple grade-a chances by the Mavericks and she earned her second victory of the season after stopping 26-of-27 shots.
Minnesota State opened the scoring in the game 16:29 into the first frame when Sydney Langseth scored her first goal of the season. The Beavers were unable to tie the game before the period's end and MSU entered the first intermission with the one-goal lead.
The Beavers were able to tie the game in the second period however, when sophomore
Shelby Breiland scored her first career goal after firing a back-handed shot towards the net after sophomore Genevieve Hendricks won an offensive face-off seven minutes into the second period.
Both teams would enter the second intermission locked in the 1-1 tie.
The Beavers carried that momentum from Breiland's goal into the final period and 6:31 into the third, senior
Reece Hunt scored her first goal of the season breaking a 10-game scoreless streak for the Beavers' top returning scorer.
Hogenson and the Beavers' defense shutdown the opposition following Hunt's rebound goal and earned their first three points in league standings.
Hogenson finished the game with 26 saves including 21 in the final two periods and improves to 2-7-1 this season.
Bemidji State goes for its first WCHA series sweep of the season tomorrow afternoon when the two teams meet again at Sanford Center at 3:01 p.m.
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).
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