Bemidji State University

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team fell 5-0 to No. 11/12 University of Minnesota Duluth in their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series finale Saturday afternoon at Sanford Center. The Bulldogs scored three times during the second period to pull away and complete the series sweep.
 
The Beavers generated several early chances and held a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal for much of the opening period. However, Molly Cole broke the scoreless tie with 58 seconds remaining, scoring her second goal of the season off assists from Zoey Krock and Josie St. Martin.
 
Bemidji State received the game's first power-play opportunity at 14:43 of the opening period but was unable to convert. The Beavers finished the afternoon 0-for-4 on the power play while holding the Bulldogs scoreless on their two opportunities.
 
Minnesota Duluth extended its lead 5:46 into the second period when Caitlin Kraemer scored an unassisted short-handed goal. Kraemer added her second goal just 1:34 later, again scoring unassisted to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.
 
Cole scored her second goal of the afternoon at 14:35 of the middle frame, sending Minnesota Duluth into the second intermission holding a 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs outshot the Beavers 13-5 during the period.
 
Freshman goaltender Ashlyn Hazlett entered for Bemidji State at the beginning of the third period and stopped the first 13 shots she faced. The Beavers created additional opportunities during the final frame, including consecutive power plays late in the period, but Ève Gascon preserved the shutout by turning aside all six BSU shots.
 
Rae Mayer completed the scoring at 17:03 of the third period, finishing a setup from Laini Gnetz and Kraemer to produce the 5-0 final.
 
Sophia Villanueva started in net for the Beavers and made 16 saves through the first two periods. Hazlett totaled 13 saves during the third in her first appearance of the season. Gascon stopped all 18 shots she faced for Minnesota Duluth.
 
Hannah Graves and Hailey Armstrong led Bemidji State with three shots on goal apiece, while Katy Comstock paced the team with four blocked shots. The Beavers blocked 14 shots overall and won 40 of the game's 67 faceoffs. Morgan Smith led all skaters with 16 faceoff wins, going 16-for-23 at the dot.
 
Minnesota Duluth finished with a 34-18 advantage in shots on goal. Kraemer led the Bulldogs with two goals and one assist, while Cole scored twice, including the game-winning goal.
 
With the result, Bemidji State moved to 1-5-0 overall and 0-4-0 in WCHA play, while Minnesota Duluth improved to 6-2-0 overall and 3-1-0 in league action.
 
The Beavers next hit the road and travel to face St. Cloud State University Oct. 23-24 for a two-game, WCHA series.
 
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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