MANKATO, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team and Minnesota State University, Mankato played to a 2-2 draw Friday night at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action. The Beavers earned their first league point of the season but the Mavericks claimed the extra point with a shootout victory.
 
Redshirt sophomore Isa Goettl scored a power-play goal with 4:24 remaining in the game to send the Beavers and Mavericks into overtime while senior Ava Hills made 36 saves in goal. Sophomore Morgan Smith added to the team's offensive efforts with a goal and an assist, finishing with two points.
 
The first period began with Bemidji State taking an early lead against MSU. Morgan Smith scored the first goal at 11:11, assisted by Kasey Senden, marking her second goal of the season. Bemidji State's defense played a significant role, with Katy Comstock blocking multiple shots, helping to maintain their advantage. Despite several offensive attempts by MSU, including a shot by Lucie Tenenbaum that hit the pipe, Bemidji State retained a 1-0 lead at the end of the period. Ava Hills made 10 saves in the period to keep MSU scoreless.
 
MSU capitalized on a power play to score the lone goal of the second period, to even the score with Bemidji State. Ayla Puppe scored the power-play goal at 16:40, with assists from Taylor Otremba and Kianna Roeske. The period ended with the score tied at 1-1, as Bemidji State's strong defensive efforts held MSU to a single goal despite multiple shot attempts.
 
The Mavericks took an early lead in the third period with Mercury Bischoff scoring at 18:37, assisted by Lauren Goldsworthy. Bemidji State responded with persistent pressure, eventually earning a power play. Isa Goettl capitalized on the advantage, tying the game 2-2 with a power-play goal at 15:36, assisted by Morgan Smith and Kate Johnson. Despite a penalty shot opportunity for MSU's Ayla Puppe at 4:02, the game remained deadlocked as neither team could find the net again before the period ended.
 
In the overtime period, MSU gained initial control from the faceoff, setting a tense pace. Bemidji State's Carmen Bray managed the first shot, which missed and was saved by Hailey Hansen. The period was marked by a two-minute holding penalty on Bemidji State, giving the Mavericks a power play opportunity. Despite numerous attempts by Lauren Zawoyski, including one shot that hit the pipe, Ava Hills stood firm in goal, making several key saves to keep the game scoreless. The period concluded with MSU failing to capitalize on their power play, ending the overtime without a goal.
 
The shootout began with missed attempts by both Bemidji State's Morgan Smith and the Mavericks' Ayla Puppe. Hailey Armstrong's effort for Bemidji State was also unsuccessful, as was Mercury Bischoff's attempt for the Mavericks. Bemidji State's Carmen Bray missed her chance, leaving the door open for MSU. Taylor Otremba capitalized, scoring the decisive goal to secure the shootout victory for MSU. The game concluded with a 2-2 tie in regulation, but Otremba's successful attempt provided the win in the shootout and two league points for the Mavericks.
 
Bemidji State finished the game going 1-for-3 on the power play while its penalty kill went 3-for-4. Hills moves her season record to 0-1-1 allowing just four goals in 151 minutes this season. She leads the WCHA with a .964 save percentage.
 
Bemidji St. holds an overall record of 2-4-1 and 0-4-1 in conference play while the Mavericks are currently 5-5-1 overall and 1-5-1 in conference play. The two teams play the series finale tomorrow afternoon at 2:02 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, or like them on Facebook.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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