MANKATO, Minn. – (RV) Minnesota State University, Mankato scored twice in the final 20 minutes to comeback and defeat the Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team 3-2 Friday night in their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series opener.
With the loss the Beavers fall to 5-25-1 on the season and 2-23-0 in WCHA play.
Minnesota State opened the game by scoring first just 4:22 after the opening puck drop when Madison Mashuga found the back of the net. The Beavers were able to respond before the period's end and with 6:07 left in the opening frame, senior
Reece Hunt one-timed a
Genevieve Hendrickson pass to score her fifth goal of the season and second in as many games.
The score would remain tied after the first 20 minutes and remained that way through most of the second period. However, with just 2:36 left in the second freshman
McKayla Zilisch banked the puck off the back of the goaltender to score her first collegiate goal and give the Beavers a 2-1 lead right before the second intermission.
Bemidji State would head into the locker-room with the one-goal lead but the Mavericks wasted little time in the third period to even the score and eventually retake the lead. Kelsey King tied the game at two just 3:22 into the final period then just 2:24 later, Mashuga scored her second of the game that would eventually prove to be the game-winning goal.
Minnesota State finished the game out-shooting the Beavers 29-21 in the game with junior
Hannah Hogenson making 26 saves for the Beavers.
The Beavers totaled three power-play chances in the game but came up empty on all three chances while their penalty kill held the Mavericks scoreless on their two opportunities.
Bemidji State will attempt to salvage a series split with the Mavericks when the two teams meet for game two tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.
For more information on the Bemidji State women's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter or Instagram (@BSUBeaversWHKY), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).
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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