Wayne State Wins...Splits Series

Posted - Sunday, October 3, 2010 12:19 am
PHOTO COURTESY OF BSU PHOTO SERVICES

The Bemidji State University women's hockey team drop a nonconference game to Wayne State University on Saturday afternoon at the City Sports Center in Detroit. The Warriors scored three power-play goals to held lift them to a 4-2 final score.

After winning Friday's game 3-0, the Beavers entered Saturday's game looking for the weekend sweep. However, Wayne State University was thinking different and jumped out to an early lead just three minutes into the game scoring on their first power play. The Warriors would add another goal on their next power play opportunity. The Beavers started to pick up their play towards the end of the first period and went on to out-shoot WSU 11-6 in the period despite scoring any goals.

The Beavers entered the second period looking to get on the board and did just that 1:55 into the start of the period. Emily Erickson (RS-So., For., Coleraine, Minn.) had the puck in the corner and found Erin Johnson (Sr., For., Farmington, Minn.) sitting at the back door. Erickson made the centering pass and Johnson slammed it home for her first goal of the season. Montana Vichorek (Jr., Def., Moose Lake, Minn.)

The goal by Johnson gave some hope back to the Beaver bench, but another power-play goal by the Warriors just six minutes later did not help their efforts. With the score 3-1, the Beavers had a costly turnover in front of their own net which allowed the Warriors to go up 4-1 halfway through the second period.

As the second period was inching closer to ending, Bemidji State was trying to get back in the game with another goal. With six minutes left in the period Erickson netted her second goal of the weekend to cut the Warrior lead to two. Erickson found herself on a two-on-one with Erin Cody (Sr., For., Roseville, Minn.) to her left. Giving a look to Cody like she was going to pass, Erickson fired the puck and beat the WSU goalie under her blocker side. Feeling like they could net the goals they needed to tie the game, the Beavers left the second period wanting more in the third.

Bemidji State really took charge in the third period looking for the two goals needed to tie the game. However, the Warriors would not relent and hold on to not conceding a goal in the period. The Beavers had multiple chances, but got unlucky bounces and couldn't finish. The BSU defense played extremely well toward the end of game, blocking three would-be empty-net goals for the Warriors. Bemidji State out-shot Wayne State 12-2 in the third period and out-shot them 33-13 in the game.

On the weekend Erickson had two goals and two assists. She currently leads the team with four points.

The Beavers will hit the road next weekend as they travel to Madison, Wis. to start conference play as they take on the Badgers.