Bemidji State Battles Back Against #6 Duluth

Posted - Monday, November 21, 2011 12:26 am
PHOTO COURTESY OF BSU PHOTO SERVICES


After a 4-1 loss in game 1 of the weekend series against the #6 University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Saturday in Duluth, the Bemidji State women's hockey team worked hard for a 4-3 win and three points in WCHA play on Sunday.

The Beavers would score three goals in the third period to take a 3-1 lead before the Bulldogs would answer back to make it a thrilling one goal game. But the ever resilient Beavers found the back of the net on a powerplay goal with 14:46 left in the final period of the game. Junior center Sadie Lundquist would score that game winning goal for Bemidji State in only their second ever win against the Bulldogs and the first time they would take 3 league points at Duluth. Emily Erickson scored twice for the Beavers while Montana Vichorek scored the first of two Beaver powerplay goals.

Bemidji State's special teams continue to play strong. The Beaver powerplay was 3 for 9 while the penalty kill unit only gave up 2 of 9 to the Bulldogs powerplay. Coming into the weekend the Beavers were ranked in the top ten in the country for special teams.

The Beavers won a shootout at the DECC two years ago, but only garnered two out of three points for the shootout win. The weekend split with UMD puts Bemidji State ahead of the Bulldogs in the WCHA standings at #5. The Beavers have 16 points in league play while the Bulldogs are behind them in sixth place with only eight points.

The Beavers improve their record to 9-4-2 overall and 5-4-1 in WCHA games this season. Bemidji State is off to its best start in program history with the nine wins. They finished the 2010-11 season with a total of 14 wins overall and 11 conference victories.

The win over Duluth is the third time this season BSU has defeated a nationally ranked opponent.

The Beavers will take on the University of North Dakota at the Crookston Civic Arena at 7:07pm this Friday. It will mark the first time since the Wheelhouse sisters, Marlee and Erika, have played in their hometown since their time spent playing for the Crookston High School Pirates girls hockey team. BSU will return to the Sanford Center on Saturday night for game 2 against the Fighting Sioux. Both games can be heard on the Beaver Radio Network.