Beavers put four-game win streak to the test against No. 1 Wisconsin
The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team will put its four-game win streak to the test this weekend when the Beavers play host to No. 1 University of Wisconsin for a pair of Western Collegiate Hockey Association games at Sanford Center this weekend. The weekend’s contests start a four-game homestand for the Beavers (6-8-2, 3-8-1 WCHA) with only four games remaining in the 2021 calendar year. Puck drop for game one is slated for 3:01 p.m., Friday, Dec. 10 followed by game two at 2:01 p.m., Saturday.
Bemidji State returns home from a four-game road trip the past two weekends and boast a 4-0-0 record during that span. The Beavers began their win streak Nov. 26-27 with a sweep of Lindenwood University and then returned to conference play with a sweep at St. Cloud State University this past weekend. The Beavers have averaged 3.5 goals per game off of 14 goals during their active win streak compared to just 14 goals and a 1.17 goals per game average through their first 12 games of the season.
Bemidji State began its series at St. Cloud State with a comeback victory in game one that saw the Beavers overcome a 2-1 deficit in the third period to win 4-3. BSU then used a game-winning, overtime goal from junior Reece Hunt to complete the series sweep over the Huskies with a 2-1 overtime victory in game two. Hunt scored both goals in game two and a goal on Friday to lead the team in scoring over the weekend and was awarded the WCHA Forward of the Week for her efforts. Sophomore Hannah Hogenson earned both wins in net for the Beavers this past weekend and has won her last four starts to improve her season record to 5-5-2.
Hogenson has posted a .932 save percentage and 1.95 goals against average during the Beavers’ win streak and has stopped 109-of-117 shots. Bemidji State holds sixth in the WCHA standings with nine points off of a 3-8-1 league record while fifth through eighth place are each separated by just one point. The Beavers hold a 6-8-2 (.438) record overall and are looking to improve its home record this weekend after starting the season 1-4-1 at home.
Bemidji State is 7-80-5 all-time against the Badgers including a 3-36-3 record when playing in Bemidji. BSU and UW met earlier this season back on Nov. 6-7 with the Beavers earning a 0-0 tie and shootout loss in game one but fell 8-1 in game two. Hogenson led the Beavers in game one by stopping a career-high 56 shots and earned her first career shutout. She was later named WCHA Goaltender of the Week for her efforts.
Bemidji State’s last win against Wisconsin came back on Jan. 11, 2020 with a 3-2 victory at Sanford Center. Fifth-year senior Lydia Passolt and Reece Hunt each recorded assists in the game. Bemidji State is on a four-game winless streak versus the Badgers (0-3-1).
Fifth-year seniors Paige Beebe and Lindsey Featherstone pace the team with 17 career games against Wisconsin while Beebe paces all active skaters with six career points (4g-2a) against the Badgers.
Junior Reece Hunt follows Beebe with four points (1g-3a) in eight career games while Passolt follows with three points (2g-1a) in 11 career games.
Hogenson has made two appearances versus the Badgers and is 0-0-1 with a 2.22 goals against average and .954 save percentage (62-of-65). Bemidji State is paced in scoring by senior Graysen Myers who has posted 12 points off of five goals and seven assists in 16 games. She has recorded a point in 10-of-16 games this season and has five points (2g-3a) in the last five games.
Myers is followed by Hunt and Beebe who have posted 11 points (5g-6a) and 10 points (6g-4a), respectively while Beebe’s six goals this season leads the team.
Of the 24 Beavers to have skated in a game this season, 15 of them have recorded a point (.625).