DULUTH, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team were within one goal from tying No. 7 University of Minnesota Duluth but an empty-net goal with 1:21 to play sealed a 2-0 victory for the Bulldogs Friday night in their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at AMSOIL Arena.
 
The Beavers (3-17-1, 2-13-0 WCHA) seemed to tie the game with a power-play goal from Taylor Nelson but the goal was called back after the puck was played with a high stick.
 
Bemidji State was held off the scoreboard by Minnesota Duluth goaltender Hailey MacLeod who turned aside all 21 Beaver shots she faced for her third shutout of the season.
 
In the opposite crease, Beaver netminder Eva Filippova was just as dominant allowing just one goal on 43 shots she faced including 18 in the final period. It is the third 40-plus save performance of the season for the freshman from Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
 
The Beavers were locked in a tight battle with the seventh-ranked Bulldogs (12-7-2, 9-6-0 WCHA) from the start totaling seven shots on goal in the opening frame compared to 11 for UMD. However, the Bulldogs would benefit from some puck luck and score the first goal just before the period's end with a goal from Grace Sadura with 4:26 remaining.
 
UMD would hold the one-goal lead for a majority of the second period until Nelson seemed to tip home a Khloe Lund shot  at 9:50 of the period but, after video review, the goal was deemed to be played by a high stick and the Bulldogs would cling onto the 1-0 lead.
 
The Beavers pressed and pressed in the third period seeking the game-tying goal but the Bulldogs' defenses were too strong and with 1:28 to play, Scanlan opted to pull his goaltender for the extra attacker and seven seconds later, Hanna Baskin sent the puck the full length of the ice and into the empty net to seal the victory.
 
Bemidji State had just the one power-play opportunity in the game and came up empty after having its power-play goal called back after review. Its penalty kill was outstanding as it denied UMD on its two chances with Filippova turning aside nine shots on the penalty kill.
 
Bemidji State will turn around quick and attempt at the series split tomorrow afternoon when the two teams meet again at 3:01 p.m.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State women's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X 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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