The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team dropped a 4-0 decision as the No. 1 Mercyhurst Lakers scored three special-teams goals in BSU’s home opener on Friday night at the Bemidji Regional Events Center.

The Beavers failed to find the back of the net in their first game at the BREC and now have a 5-4-3 record in home openers. The Beavers last lost in a home opener came in 2007 when losing 3-1 to Minnesota State.

The Beavers skated well starting the first period and got a couple of good scoring chances and finished with nine shots on net. Mercyhurst captain and Olympic Gold-Medal winner, Meghan Agosta scored the first official goal in the new building 8:44 into the first period. Agosta then added a second goal to make it 0-2 after one period.

The Beavers upped their play in the second period holding Mercyhurst scoreless as BSU tender Zuzana Tomcikova (Jr., Bratislava, Slovakia) stopped all 10 shots. The Bemidji State special teams did well controlling the puck on the power play, registering two power-play shots on net.

“We got better as the game went on,” said head coach Steve Sertich. “In the second period we battled better and scrapped with them.”

Just 41 seconds into the third period the Beavers found themselves on the penalty kill for the third time of the game. On this chance Mercyhurst would net their third goal on the 31 seconds into the man advantage. With their special teams confident after the goal, the Lakers would score again on the power play with 1:27 left in the game to bring the final score to 4-0.

Tomcikova made 29 saves in the contest, while Mercyhurst goalie Hilary Pattenden registered 26 saves.

The BSU defense tallied a total of 13 blocked shots in the game, including five by sophomore defender Erika Wheelhouse (Crookston, Minn.).

The Beavers will return to the ice tomorrow in another match up against Lakers to finish off the weekend series. Game time is set for 2:07 p.m.