The Bemidji State women’s hockey teamout-shot the Toronto Junior Aeros to earn a 4-2 victory on Friday night in the Neilson-Reise Arena. The Beavers used all three goalies in net, stopping a combined 21 of 23 shots.
The Beavers jumped out first on a goal from Kim Lieder (Jr., Eagan, Minn.) 8:21 into the first period with Tess Dusik (Fr., Oak Bluff, Manitoba) assisting on the play. The Beaver offense kept the pressure on with Aeros goaltender Brianna Piper stopping 14 of 15 shots in the first period. BSU goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova (JR., Bratislava, Slovakia) faced just 6 shots, stopping all 6.
“We came out well with a lot of jump in the first period,” said assistant coach Heather Farrell.”We still have lots of work to do.”
Alana McElhinney (Jr., G., Calgary, Alberta) took over net for the second period, with the play in the period a little more even. The Beavers were called for four penalties with the first coming at the 6:39 mark, but Jamie Hatheway (So., F., Trenton, Ontario) was able to increase the BSU lead to 2-0 on a short-handed goal. McElhinney turned away 8 of the 10 power-play shots she faced and stopped 11 of 13 for the period. The Beavers were able to find the back of the net at the 15:11 mark when Molly Arola (So., F., Walker, Minn.) put home a rebound shot on a five on three power-play to make the score 3-1. Erika Wheelhouse (So., D., Crookston, Minn.) and Marlee Wheelhouse (Jr., D., Crookston, Minn.) assisted on the power-play goal. The Aeros would add their second power-play goal of the period at the 17:50 mark to make it a 3-2 game after two periods.
The third period was played penalty free after six were called in the second. The BSU offense kept the pressure on in a back and forth final period with 10 more shots on net, totaling 41 shots on goal for the game. Jessica Havel (So., G., Grand Rapids, Minn.) took her turn in net stopping all 4 shots she faced while Lauren Williams (Jr., F., Egan, Minn.) added an insurance goal off a turnover, in front of the net at the 9:10 mark of the period.
The Beavers will open the regular season with two games on the road against Wayne State Oct.1-2.