BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team mounted a determined third-period comeback but could not erase a two-goal deficit in a 4-3 loss to (RV) Minnesota State University, Mankato Friday evening in game one of their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn.
The Beavers (1-10-0, 0-9-0 WCHA) received goals from
Carmen Bray,
Talya Hendrickson and
Morgan Smith.
Davina Davis collected two assists and Hendrickson finished with a goal and assist as Bemidji State outshot the Mavericks 28-24 and won 30 of the game's 51 faceoffs.
Bemidji State struck first 12:41 into the opening period. Bray scored the first goal of her Beaver career, finishing a play set up by
Olivia Dronen and
Kate Johnson to send the Beavers into the first intermission with a 1-0 advantage.
The Mavericks (6-5-1, 2-5-0 WCHA) answered with three goals during the second period. Lila Deis scored twice, tying the game at 5:51 and putting Minnesota State in front at 9:33. Kamryn Van Batavia then extended the Mavericks' lead to 3-1 with 4:52 remaining in the period.
The Beavers pushed back in the third and pulled within one when Hendrickson scored her third goal of the season at 8:27. Davis and
Lola Macuiba earned assists on the goal. However, Mika Cichosz restored the Mavericks' two-goal lead just 2:28 later with the eventual game-winner.
Bemidji State continued to pressure late, pulling goaltender
Sophia Villanueva for an extra attacker with 2:47 remaining. Davis hit the post during the ensuing six-on-five attack before Smith scored with just 3.5 seconds left. Davis and Hendrickson assisted on Smith's first goal of the season, but the Mavericks secured the ensuing faceoff and ran out the remaining time.
The Beavers generated 13 shots during the final period while holding the Mavericks to five. Villanueva finished with 20 saves, while Jaya Schippel stopped 25 shots for the Mavericks. Both teams went scoreless on three power-play opportunities.
The Beavers and Mavericks conclude their conference series tomorrow afternoon at 2:02 p.m., from Sanford Center.
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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