MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team fell to No. 2 University of Minnesota, 6–2, in game one of their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series Friday. Bemidji State and Minnesota were tied 2-2 after two periods but a four-goal third period by the Gophers sent them to victory. Sophomore goaltender Kaitlin Groess made 50 saves for the Beavers the second most in her career.
 
Isa Goettl scored one goal and added a power-play goal, contributing significantly on offense. Morgan Smith also found the net, scoring one goal and winning 10 faceoffs. Kate Johnson, Izy Fairchild and Carmen Bray each recorded assists in the game.
 
The first period commenced with Bemidji State's Smith winning the opening faceoff and quickly capitalizing at the 19:46 mark. Smith scored just 14 seconds into the game with an assist from Izy Fairchild, giving Bemidji State an early lead and was the second fastest goal to start a game in program history. Minnesota responded at 13:29 when Emma Kreisz found the back of the net, assisted by Abbey Murphy and Chloe Primerano, leveling the score. Despite a series of missed opportunities and saves, the period concluded with both teams tied at 1–1.
 
In the second period, Minnesota extended their lead to 2–1 with a short-handed goal by Sydney Morrow at 10:46, assisted by Ava Lindsay and Kreisz. Bemidji State responded on the power play when Goettl scored at 15:25, assisted by Carmen Bray and Johnson, leveling the score at 2–2. Both teams had numerous attempts, but goalkeepers Groess for Bemidji State and Hannah Clark for UMN managed to keep the game tied by the end of the period.
 
Minnesota gained its second lead in the game early in the third period when Lindsay scored the game-winning goal at 14:34, assisted by Anabella Fanale and Gracie Graham. Jamie Nelson added another at 12:07, with help from Madison Kaiser, pushing the score to 4-2. The Gophers then capitalized on a short-handed opportunity, as Josefin Bouveng scored unassisted at 7:36. Murphy sealed the victory with an even-strength goal at 3:21, assisted by Kreisz and Nelli Laitinen, bringing the final score to 6-2.
 
The Beavers will try to even the WCHA series tomorrow afternoon when game two begins 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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