MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team fell to Lindenwood University, 7–4, as the Lions staved off a Beaver comeback late in the game. Bemidji State managed to keep it close through two periods, with a 2-goal effort in the second, but LU pulled away with three goals in the final 20 minutes.
 
Hailey Armstrong led the Beavers scoring twice in the game for her second multi-goal game of the season. Raeley Carney posted assists for her second consecutive two-point effort and has four points (2g-2a) over the last two games. She excelled in the faceoff circle, winning 11-of-15 for a 73-percent success rate. Kate Johnson also recorded two assists in the game while Talya Hendrickson and Autumn Cooper each scored for the first time this season.
 
The first period began with Bemidji State winning the initial faceoff and testing LU's goalie, Lexington Secreto, with an early shot from Katy Comstock. Shortly Josey Dunne-Weeks scored at 15:54, assisted by Tatem Starlight-Yellowfly and Silje Gundersen, to give the Lions a 1–0 lead. Bemidji State quickly responded, as Hendrickson netted the equalizer at 15:33 with help from Carney and Shelby Sandberg. LU regained the lead when Lucie Quarto scored at 11:12, assisted by Pusle Dyring-Andersen. With under a minute left in the period, Michaela Paulinyova extended LU's advantage to 3–1 with a power-play goal, assisted by Molly Henderson and Rhaea Flint. The period ended with the Lions holding a 3–1 lead.
 
The second period began with an early penalty on Bemidji State, giving the Lions a power play. Despite multiple attempts, Kaitlin Groess made a series of saves, keeping LU from capitalizing. At 17:20, Dyring-Andersen extended the Lions' lead to 4–1 with a goal assisted by Zsofia Pazmandi. Bemidji State responded at 12:11 when Cooper scored, assisted by Carney, narrowing the deficit to two. With 53 seconds left, Armstrong closed the gap further, scoring off assists from Kate Johnson and Macuiba, ending the period with a 4–3 score in favor of the Lions.
 
The third period saw LU extend their lead over Bemidji State with a decisive performance. At 12:36, Henderson scored the game-winning goal, assisted by Hannah Dods, to make it 6-4. Bemidji State responded quickly with Armstrong's goal at 13:32, assisted by Johnson, cutting the deficit to one. However, LU's Paige Cline restored the two-goal cushion at 14:01, assisted by Starlight-Yellowfly. Paulinyova sealed the game for the Lions with an empty-net goal at 18:06, assisted by Pazmandi, securing a 7-4 victory.
 
Bemidji State earned four power plays in the game but failed to score on the advantage while the Lions went 1-for-4 on the power play.
 
Ava Hills started the game and played the first period allowing three goals on nine shots before Kaitlin Groess came in at the second period and stopped 21-of-24 and was credited with the loss.
 
The Beavers will attempt to salvage a series split with the Lions when game two is played at 1:00 p.m., Maryland Heights.
 
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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