ORONO, Maine — Tess Dusik (Fr., F, Oak Bluff, Manitoba) used an overtime goal to send the Bemidji State University women’s hockey team past the University of Maine 3-2 Friday night at Harold Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine. The Beavers were down 2-1 late in the second period but used a late regulation goal from Emily Erickson (R-Jr., F, Coleraine, Minn.) and Dusik’s game-winner to mount yet another comeback to earn the victory. Bemidji State improves to 2-1-2 (0-1-1-1 WCHA). The loss is the first of the season for Maine, who along with the Beavers came into the game receiving votes in both polls. The Black Bears fall to 4-1-0 (0-0-0 Hockey East).

The Beavers have played three overtime games in their five contests this season. Friday’s win was the first overtime victory for Bemidji State. The Beavers earned ties against Ohio State University and Providence College earlier this season. In addition, BSU has mounted two comebacks so far this season. BSU was down 3-0 against Ohio State last weekend before coming away with a 4-4 tie against the Buckeyes and down 2-1 late in Friday’s game.

BSU has been lethal on the power play this season. All three BSU goals were scored off the power play Friday night. BSU has scored seven goals on 25 power plays this season. On the other end of the Beaver special teams, the penalty kill unit stopped seven power plays on the night. BSU has given up two goals on 22 power plays for their opponents so far this year.

Kristin Huber (Fr., F, Kelowna, British Columbia) led the Beavers with two points on the game. Erickson paced the Beavers on the attack with nine shots on goal while Erika Wheelhouse (Jr., D, Crookston, Minn.) added seven on the night.
The Maine Black Bears took an early 1-0 lead 46 seconds into the second period off a Myriam Crousette goal. The score was the fourth goal of the season for the Maine senior. Brittany Dougherty and Dawn Sullivan had assists for the Black Bears

The Beavers evened the score 1-1 at the 10:10 mark in the second period when E. Wheelhouse netted a Montana Vichorek (Sr., D, Moose Lake, Minn.) pass on the BSU power play. Wheelhouse’s shot trickled past Black Bear goaltender Brittany Ott who was being screened by a host of BSU skaters in front of the net. The goal marks E. Wheelhouse’s second career goal and her seventh point of the year. Wheelhouse leads all BSU scorers so far this season with one goal and six assists. The assist was Vichorek’s fourth of the season. Sadie Lundquist (Jr., F, Cloquet, Minn.) also was credited with an assist. Lundquist has two goals and an assist this season.

At the 8:27 mark in the third period, Maine’s Danielle Ward came out of the penalty box ending a BSU power play. Ward stole the puck and was tripped up by a BSU defenseman right between the two face-off dots earning a penalty shot. Ward netted her penalty shot putting the Black Bears ahead 2-1. The goal was Ward’s fourth of the season.

With less than two minutes left in regulation, BSU desperately looked to tie up the game removing goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova (Sr., G, Bratislava, Slovakia) from the game to give the Beavers a six-on-four skater advantage due to a BSU power play. Erickson put the puck by Ott tying the game 2-2. The goal was Erickson’s third of the season. She has three goals and one assist five games into her junior year. The goal came directly after play was started back after BSU removed Tomcikova. Marlee Wheelhouse (Sr., D, Crookston, Minn.) had her second assist of the season on the goal. Kristin Huber (Fr., F, Kelowna, British Columbia) was credited with her first career assist marking her first point in the green and white.

The Beavers went on another power play after Maine’s Daugherty was called for tripping early in the overtime period. Dusik scored 1:54 into overtime for her second goal of the season. Newcomers Rachael Kelly (Fr., F, Rosemount, Minn.) and Huber had assists on the goal. The assist was Kelly’s second of the season and her third point of her BSU career.

Tomcikova picks up her second win of the season in goal. The senior gave up two goals on the night but notched 25 saves. Tomcikova needs only three wins to tie Bre Dedrickson as Bemidji State’s all-time wins leader in net.

The win marks BSU’s first victory over Maine in the four-game series.

–bsu–