BEMIDJI, Minn. – Numerous firsts were achieved Friday night at Sanford Center but most importantly, the Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team captured its first win under new head coach
Amber Fryklund with a 6-3 victory over Lindenwood University.
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The Beavers also saw the first hat trick for sophomore
Hailey Armstrong, first win between the pipes for freshman
Kaitlin Groess, first career goals for freshman
Morgan Smith and sophomore
Shelby Sandberg and first career assists for redshirt freshman
Isa Goettl, junior
Heidi Strompf and Groess.
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Armstrong netted the first Beaver hat trick since Reece Hunt on Feb. 8, 2020 but it was also the 17
th hat trick in BSU Women's Hockey history. The sophomore from Dawson Creek, B.C., was all over the ice and broke a program record with 14 shots on goal (12, Haley Mack, Feb. 29, 2020).
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Bemidji State senior captain
Alyssa Watkins started the scoring 10:02 into the first period with her second goal of the season.
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She was followed by Smith who netted her first collegiate goal with a top-shelf snipe from a sharp angle with 2:19 left in the frame.
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The Beavers weren't finished and with 58 seconds left in the period, Sandberg also scored her first collegiate marker before the first horn sounded.
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Lindenwood bounced back with a goal from Silje Gundersen 5:41 into the second period but the Beavers retook the three-goal lead with just 16 seconds left in the frame from Armstrong's first goal.
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The Beavers held onto the 4-1 lead through most of the final period and with 4:12 left to play, Lindenwood pulled its goaltender in favor of the extra skater and Armstrong took advantage scoring into the empty net for her second goal.
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The Lions would make it interesting following the empty-net goal and Chloe Corbin scored twice over the next two minutes to make it 5-3. However, Armstrong would take advantage of the empty-net again with 1:05 to play to complete the hat trick.
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The Beavers dominated in the offensive zone producing a season-high 48 shots on goal Nov. 2, 2022 after totaling 50 against Sacred Heart.
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Groess earned her first collegiate victory between the pipes after she turned aside 24 of the Lions' 27 shots in the game.
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The Beavers will now attempt for their first series sweep of the season tomorrow afternoon for game two which is slated for 3:02 p.m., at Sanford Center.
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For more information on the Bemidji State men's and women's hockey programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X or Instagram (@BSUBeaversMHKY/@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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