BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Hockey team fell to No. 2 Ohio State University in a decisive 7–1 contest Friday night in game one of their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at Sanford Center. OSU took control early, scoring one goal in the first period and adding three more in each of the following periods. The Buckeyes' offensive depth, including a hat trick performance, proved too much, despite Bemidji State managing to score a power-play goal in the second period.
Hailey Armstrong scored one power-play goal on three shots, for her 15
th of the season and fifth on the power play.
Morgan Smith recorded an assist and won 10 faceoffs.
Carmen Bray added an assist and registered three shots.
Kaitlin Groess made 38 saves, facing a barrage of shots throughout the game.
The first period began with the Buckeyes taking control from the opening faceoff, won by Jocelyn Amos. BSU took a tripping penalty at 2:18, leading to a power play for OSU. Kaia Malachino capitalized on the opportunity, scoring a power-play goal at 2:48 with assists from Emma Peschel and Maxine Cimoroni, marking her sixth goal of the season. Groess faced a barrage of shots throughout the period, keeping it a one-goal game as the period closed with OSU leading 1–0.
Bemidji State faced an uphill battle in the second period as the Buckeyes extended their lead. Peschel put OSU ahead 2-0 at 14:13 with a goal assisted by Kassidy Carmichael. Malachino followed, scoring at 12:11, making it 3-0 with an assist from Peschel. Bemidji State responded with a power-play goal by Armstrong at 10:17, assisted by Bray and Smith, closing the gap to 3-1. However, OSU's Sloane Matthews secured a 4-1 advantage at 6:45 with a goal assisted by Sanni Vanhanen. Despite Bemidji State's efforts, the period ended with OSU leading 4-1.
OSU extended its lead early in the third period with a power-play goal by Amos, assisted by Matthews and Malachino, just 28 seconds in. Matthews then added another goal at 4:04, with assists from Cimoroni and Sara Swiderski, pushing the score to 6–1. Malachino capped the scoring on a power play with 36 seconds left, recording a hat trick and securing a 7–1 victory for the Buckeyes. Despite Bemidji State's efforts, including several shots on goal, OSU's defense and goaltending maintained their advantage throughout the period.
The Beavers close out the regular season tomorrow and honor two seniors for Senior Day with game two. Puck drop is slated for 3:02 p.m. at Sanford Center.
For more information on the Bemidji State women's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit
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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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