Down 2-0 after the first period, the Bemidji State University women’s hockey team rallied to score four unanswered goals to complete the 4-3 comeback victory over University of St. Thomas Friday night in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play. The Beavers earned three points in league standings with the victory and sit sixth with a point percentage of .302.
The first period heavily favored the Tommies (4-18-1, 2-16-1 WCHA) as BSU totaled four trips to the penalty box during the period. St. Thomas scored twice while on the power play to take the early 2-0 lead. Brieja Parent began the scoring at 5:14 of the frame with her first collegiate goal. St. Thomas then made it 2-0 while on a 5-on-3 advantage when Allie Monrean scored her fourth goal of the season at 12:29 of the period. After a period totaling four Tommie power plays, UST held a 12-4 shot advantage over the Beavers at the first break.
Bemidji State played much better in the second period and dominated play in its offensive zone. The Beavers out-shot the Tommies 12-3 in the period and broke through the Tommies defense 6:52 into the frame when freshman Adriana Van De Leest scored her first collegiate goal from the top of the slot. She was assisted by sophomore Kayla Santl for her first collegiate point as well as senior captain Claudia Verkerke for her first collegiate point as well.
The Beavers carried that momentum into the third period and again dominated play in the period. BSU wasted little time to earn the equalizing goal when freshman Clair Vekich batted in a loose puck in front of the crease for her sixth goal of the season to tie the game just 1:24 into the period. The Beavers continued to pressure the Tommies and just 4:25 later, junior Paige Anderson scored her first goal of the season to give the Beavers the 3-2 advantage. Bemidji State would make it 4-2 with just 2:23 remaining when fifth-year senior Paige Beebe scored her eighth goal of the season. St. Thomas would make thing interesting soon after however, and with the extra attacker, Parent netted her second goal of the game to bring the score to 4-3 with 2:06 to play. However, sophomore goaltender Hannah Hogenson and the rest of the Beavers’ defense remained strong and denied the Tommies the equalizing goal to claim the 4-3 victory.
Santl led the Beavers with two assists in the game after collecting her first career assist and assisted on Anderson’s goal as well for her first career multi-point game. A total of 10 Beavers recorded a point in the game.
Hogenson claimed victory for the eighth time this season and improves to 8-8-3 after turning aside 18-of-21 shots by St. Thomas. Her counterpart Alex Dobchuck falls to 1-12-1 on the season after stopping 26-of-30 shots.
Bemidji State will attempt to gain three more points in league standings and its first home series sweep of the season this afternoon when the two teams meet again at 3:01 p.m., at Sanford Center.
Tune into our pregame coverage today beginning today at 2:30 p.m. CST on 94.3 FM The Legends in Bemidji or online at www.beaverradionetwork.com.
Pregame Open Pregame Open
Jim Scanlan Pregame Jim Scanlan Pregame
Adriana Van De Leest Pregame Player Pregame
Bemidji State Lines
1 – Reece Hunt
2 – Claudia Verkerke
3 – Kerigan Dowhy
Opponent Lines
Jim Scanlan Postgame Jim Scanlan Postgame
Listen To / Download Whole Game
Beaver Radio Network Three Stars
Box Score Courtesy of College Hockey News
Paul Bunyan Net Mailbag Comments
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Bob – Biss
Ohio here, good game yesterday, joined it late.
Go Beavers and win the series.