BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team held off a late rally from the University of St. Thomas Saturday afternoon to earn its first series sweep of the season and first since 2022-23. The Beavers defeated the Tommies 4-3 at Sanford Center to complete the sweep after earning a 4-1 victory the night before.
 
It is also the Beavers' first Western Collegiate Hockey Association series sweep January of 2022. The Beavers improved to 3-10-1 on the season and earned three more points in WCHA play to bring their season total to six.
 
Freshman goaltender Kaitlin Groess stood on her head once again for the Beavers making 39 saves, the third most so far this season. She earned her second consecutive victory in between the pipes and improved to 3-8-0 on the season.
 
Sophomore Hailey Armstrong started the Beavers' scoring just 20 seconds after opening puck drop scoring her team-leading sixth goal of the season. 5:53 later, junior Mya Headrick scored her first of the season with freshman Autumn Cooper assisting on the play.
 
The Beavers then went up 3-0 before the end of the period when sophomore Kate Johnson scored at the 17:34 mark for her fourth point over the weekend.
 
The Beavers' scoring run ending in the second period when Maddie Jurgensen scored her second goal of the season 14:01 into the frame but just 2:10 later, sophomore Shelby Sandberg tipped home a Meredith Kililan shot to score her second goal of the season.
 
The Tommies (5-8-1, 2-7-1 WCHA) made a late push in the third period outshooting the Beavers 17-5 in the final 20 minutes. UST made it 4-2 at 8:51 of the period from Ella Boerger and just 5:32 later, Lauren Stenslie scored a power-play goal to bring the Tommies within one.
 
However, the Beavers didn't break and held the Tommies off the scoreboard for a fourth time to earn their second straight win.
 
The Beavers now begin a 13-game road streak next weekend when they travel to University of Minnesota Duluth for their first two-game series with the Bulldogs.
 
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).
 
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).
 
--bsu--