The Bemidji State University women’s ice hockey team will travel east this weekend to battle No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth in the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Playoffs. The Beavers go into the tournament as the No. 5 seed after going 18-15-1 in the regular season, while the Bulldogs are the No. 4 seed after a 19-10-5 mark this season.

About the Beavers
The Beavers come into the playoffs having won four of their last six games with the two losses coming by a combined three goals to No. 2 Minnesota last weekend.

BSU has six skaters that have 15 or more points this season, which is the most since the 2011-12 season. Juniors Kaitlyn Tougas and Ivana Bilic have led the way with 26 and 21 points, respectively. Tougas leads the team with five multi-point games this season, while Bilic paces BSU’s blue liners in goals (5), assists (16), shots on goal (83) and plus/minus rating (+11).

Goaltender Brittni Mowat has started 28 of the 34 games in net for the Beavers this season. The Glenboro, Manitoba native has a 16-11-1 record with an 1.70 goals against average and .943 save percentage. Mowat’s 16 victories are a new program record for the most victories by a goaltender in a single season.