Bemidji State University

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team fell 4-1 to top-ranked Ohio State University in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play Friday night in Columbus, Ohio. The Beavers moved to 1-8-0 overall and 0-7-0 in conference play, while the Buckeyes improved to 10-1-0 overall and 6-1-0 in the WCHA.
 
Ohio State scored once in each of the first two periods before adding two goals during the third. Davina Davis broke through for the Beavers with 2:56 remaining, while Sophia Villanueva made 30 saves against the nation's top-ranked team.
 
The Buckeyes opened the scoring 9:25 into the first period when Ema Tothova scored an unassisted, even-strength goal. Ohio State produced 17 shots on goal during the opening frame, but Villanueva stopped 16 to keep Bemidji State within one entering the first intermission.
 
Rylee Bartz doubled the Buckeyes' advantage just 1:47 into the second period, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal with assists from Kaia Malachino and Alida Korte. The Beavers limited Ohio State to seven shots during the period, but entered the second intermission trailing 2-0.
 
Ohio State began the third period on the power play and Bartz scored her second goal of the night at 1:59. Maxine Cimoroni and Jordan Baxter assisted on the power-play marker that extended the Buckeyes' lead to three.
 
The Buckeyes added their fourth goal at 11:06 when Kassidy Carmichael scored her first of the season off assists from Baxter and Jocelyn Amos.
 
Bemidji State continued to battle and spoiled the shutout with 2:56 remaining. Davis scored her third goal of the season at even strength, finishing a play set up by Morgan Smith and Talya Hendrickson to produce the 4-1 final. The point was Smith's third of the season, while Hendrickson also recorded her third.
 
Villanueva played all 60 minutes and stopped 30 of the 34 shots she faced, including 16 saves during the first period. Autumn Cooper led the Beavers with three shots on goal, while Olivia Dronen, Shelby Sandberg and Hailey Armstrong each added two. Kasey Senden paced Bemidji State with three blocked shots.
 
Ohio State finished with a 34-16 advantage in shots on goal and won 29 of the game's 48 faceoffs. Bemidji State went scoreless on two power-play opportunities, while the Buckeyes converted one of five chances. Rowan Houweling stopped 15 shots to earn the victory for Ohio State.
 
The Beavers and Buckeyes conclude their WCHA series Saturday in Columbus. Puck drop is slated for 2:00 p.m. CT.
 
Bemidji State earned one of its closest results against Ohio State last season, falling 2-1 in Columbus on Oct. 11, 2025. The Beavers scored first on a power-play goal by Hailey Armstrong and held the Buckeyes scoreless on four power plays.
 
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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