Bemidji State travels to Columbus to face No. 2 Buckeyes

After a weekend off from competition the Bemidji State University women’s hockey team prepares for another road trip by traveling to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 2 Ohio State University for a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series. The Beavers (1-1-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) and second-ranked Buckeyes (4-0-0, 4-0-0 WCHA) open their weekend series Friday, Oct. 15 at 5:01 p.m. CDT followed by game two Saturday at 2:01 p.m. CDT.

Both games will be held at OSU Ice Rink (1,000) with admission free for all women’s hockey games while the games will also be broadcast on the Beaver Radio Network.

Bemidji State returns to competition after having a bye week last weekend and opening the season the weekend before at new WCHA member, University of St. Thomas. The Beavers split their season-opening series with the Tommies after earning a 3-0 shutout in game one but St. Thomas responded in game two with a 2-1 victory to earn the series split.

Fifth-year senior Paige Beebe led the Beavers with two goals in the series, both in game one, while junior Reece Hunt posted a goal and assist.

Eight Beavers recorded a point in the series with St. Thomas including junior Kate Boland (1a), sophomore Gabbie Smith (1g) and freshman Adriana Van De Leest (1a) who each recorded their first career points. Fifth-year senior Kerigan Dowhy started both games in net for BSU in the series and earned her fourth career shutout with a 31-save performance in game one. She stopped 54-of-56 shots over the weekend and is second in the WCHA with a .964 save percentage.

Bemidji State is 28-47-13 all time against Ohio State and are 12-26-6 when playing in Columbus. The Beavers and Buckeyes met for one series in a shortened season last year and were swept in two games on the road. Ohio State outscored BSU 11-2 in last season’s series including a 7-1 victory in game two.

Fifth-year senior Lydia Passolt and Hunt lead all returners with four points against the Buckeyes with Passolt posting three goals and an assist and Hunt totaling four assists. Fifth-year seniors Lindsey Featherstone and Beebe pace the Beavers with 14 career games played against OSU with Passolt adding 12 and senior Graysen Myers adding 10.

Dowhy leads all netminders with five games played against Ohio State and has posted a .939 save percentage and 2.24 goals against average in 267 minutes and is 3-1-0.

Head coach Jim Scanlan is 10-14-2 in eight seasons coaching against the Buckeyes and is 103-123-17 in his coaching career.