Bemidji State University women’s hockey freshman Reece Hunt scored 8:43 into the fourth overtime of Saturday’s game two of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Quarterfinals versus No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth to keep the Beavers’ season alive and force game three Sunday afternoon. Bemidji State (16-17-3) earned the 2-1 victory over Minnesota Duluth (17-11-6) in 128:43 minutes of hockey that spanned 4 hours and 50 minutes for the second longest game in NCAA women’s hockey history and longest in the WCHA.
Hunt’s game-winning goal was her second goal of the game after she scored at the 11:36 mark of the first period.
Bemidji State evens its playoff series with the Bulldogs at one-game apiece and will play the decisive game three tomorrow afternoon at 4:07 p.m., for a trip to the WCHA Final Faceoff at Ridder Arena.
Redshirt junior Lauren Bench had a record-setting performance in net and stopped 70-of-71 shots by the Bulldogs to set a program record for most saves in a single game, breaking the previous record of 66 set by Janet Hicks on Feb. 1, 1999. That mark is tied for ninth-most in NCAA history.
Head coach Jim Scanlan earned career victory number 100 with the marathon victory and becomes the first head coach in program history to reach the century mark (100-104-15).
Minnesota Duluth struck first in the opening frame when sophomore Gabbie Hughes scored 9:48 into the first period for the early 1-0 lead and earn her 50th point of the season. 2:48 after the Bulldogs’ goal, Hunt curled behind the net and fired the puck over a diving Maddie Rooney to earn her fifth goal of the season and even the score.
The next 117:07 would be scoreless between the two teams as Saturday’s marathon game continued into the fourth overtime. However, at 8:43 of the period, senior defenseman Briana Jorde rung the puck around the boards that sprung senior Haley Mack and Hunt into a 2v2 rush and Hunt buried the game-winning goal over the right shoulder of Rooney.
Minnesota Duluth attempted a total of 146 shots during the game but the Beavers’ defense blocked a program record 46 shots including 14 by junior Tina Kampa.
Both Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth failed to score on a power play as BSU went 0-for-4 and UMD 0-for-3.
Puck drop for game three is slated for 4:07 p.m., from AMSOIL Arena. Tune into our pregame coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m. on 94.3 FM The Legends in Bemidji or online at www.beaverradionetwork.com.
Pregame Open Pregame Open
Jim Scanlan Pregame Coach Pregame
Lauren Bench Pregame Player Pregame
Bemidji State Lines
Abby Halluska – Kiki Radke – Paige Beebe
Haley Mack – Clair DeGeorge – Reece Hunt
Lydia Passolt – Lindsey Featherstone – Ellie Moser
Claudia Verkerke – Graysen Myers – Mya Neugent
Extra Skater – Abby DeLaRosa
Briana Jorde – Mak Langei
Tina Kampa – Heather Olson
Kara Werth – Abby Ecker
Lauren Bench
Kerigan Dowhy
Lexi Baker
Opponent Lines
Anna Klein – Gabbie Hughes – Sydney Brodt
Kasundra Betinol – Ryleigh Houston – Anneke Linser
Mannon McMahon – Kylie Hanley – Taylor Anderson
Brooklynn Schugel – McKenzie Hewett – Monique Aanenson
Maggie Flaherty – Ashton Bell
Lizi Norton – Jalyn Elmes
Taylor Stewart – Kailee Skinner
Maddie Rooney
Emma Söderberg
Hanna Markel
Beaver Radio Network Three Stars
1 – Maddie Rooney
2 – Kylie Hanley
3 – Reece Hunt
Jim Scanlan Postgame Jim Scanlan Postgame
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Boxscore provided by http://collegehockeystats.net