Bemidji State University

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team fell 3-0 to No. 11/12 University of Minnesota Duluth in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play Friday night at Sanford Center.
 
The Bulldogs scored once in each period, while goaltender Ève Gascon stopped all 24 Bemidji State shots. Sophia Villanueva recorded 29 saves in net for the Beavers, including 11 during the third period.
 
Minnesota Duluth opened the scoring 11:29 into the first period. Caitlin Kraemer scored her fifth goal of the season off assists from Kate Kosobud and Rae Mayer, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.
 
Bemidji State generated six shots on goal during the opening period, but Gascon turned each attempt aside. Villanueva stopped 10 of Minnesota Duluth's 11 shots to keep the Beavers within one entering the first intermission.
 
The Beavers continued to battle throughout the second period and killed Minnesota Duluth's only full power-play opportunity of the game. Bemidji State put eight shots on goal during the frame, but the Bulldogs doubled their lead with 47 seconds remaining when Ava MacLeod scored her first goal of the season. Laini Gnetz and Renée Lapointe earned assists on the play.
 
Bemidji State produced its best offensive period of the night during the final frame, putting 10 shots on goal and earning two power-play opportunities. However, Gascon preserved the shutout before Madi Burr scored with 2:32 remaining to complete the 3-0 final. Josie St. Martin and Ida Karlsson assisted on the goal.
 
Kate Johnson, Elly Klepinger, Morgan Smith, Carmen Bray and Hailey Armstrong each recorded three shots on goal to lead the Bemidji State attack. Smith also won 14 faceoffs as the Beavers finished 27-for-63 at the dot.
 
The Beavers finished 0-for-3 on the power play while holding the Bulldogs scoreless on their lone opportunity. Bemidji State committed two penalties for four minutes compared with four penalties for eight minutes by Minnesota Duluth.
 
The loss moved Bemidji State to 1-4-0 overall and 0-3-0 in WCHA play, while Minnesota Duluth improved to 5-2-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the conference.
 
The two teams will be back at Sanford Center tomorrow afternoon for their series finale. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:02 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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