BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team scored with 1:25 remaining to force overtime with University of St. Thomas Friday night at Sanford Center but the Tommies earned the shootout victory to earn the extra Western Collegiate Hockey Association point.
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Junior defenseman
Makenna Deering scored the game-tying goal with 1:25 to play to give the Beavers a point in the standings while freshman
Eva Filippova turned aside 29-of-31 shots she faced.
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The Beavers are now 3-20-2 on the season and 2-16-1 in league play.
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After a scoreless first period, the Beavers opened the scoring in the second when
Kayla Santl converted a nice pass from
Alyssa Watkins while on a two-on-one rush to score her fourth goal of the season.
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However, the Tommies answered back with a power-play goal from Lauren Stenslie with 2:29 left in the frame to even the score heading into the final intermission.
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St. Thomas then took its first lead of the game with 6:36 to play when Maddy Clough scored a power-play goal for the 2-1 lead.
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However, with their goaltender Filippova pulled in favor of the extra attacker, the Beavers scored the equalizing goal with just 1:25 when
Makenna Deering batted home a rebounded
Riley Reeves shot.
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The two teams would head to the three-on-three overtime period and each team had its fair share of chances totaling three shots on goal in the five-minute frame. Both goaltenders denied the three shots they faced and the game headed to the shootout to determine the winner of the extra league point.
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After each team's first shooter failed to score, Clough put the Tommies on the board first. Unfortunately, Clough's goal would be the only tally in the shootout as UST's Olivia King denied all three Beaver attempts.
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The Beavers earned a point in the standings however, increasing their season total to seven.
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Bemidji State totaled 28 shots on King while Filippova finished with 29 saves on 31 shots faced falling just short of her fifth straight 30-plus save performance. She moves to 3-11-1 on the season while King is now 5-7-1.
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The Beavers earned three power-play opportunities in the game but came up empty on all three while the Tommies scored twice on their three attempts.
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Bemidji State can still take the series victory tomorrow afternoon and will shoot for a regulation victory over the Tommies when they meet again at 3:01 p.m., at Sanford Center. Tickets are discounted to just $2 for the remainder of the women's hockey season with Sanford Center running specials on hotdogs, brats, soda and popcorn.
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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).
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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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