The No. 9 Bemidji State University women’s hockey team will begin Western Collegiate Hockey Association conference play Friday and Saturday. The Beavers (3-0-1, 0-0-0 WCHA) host the University of Minnesota Duluth (2-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) for a two-game series at Sanford Center.

The Bulldogs are on the road for the second consecutive week after traveling to No. 2 Boston College and play a ranked team for the second week in a row. UMD dropped both games against the Eagles, losing 4-1 Friday and 4-2 Saturday. Minnesota Duluth opened the season with two wins against Lindenwood University.

Bemidji State earned its first season sweep last weekend and its first two wins on the road. BSU defeated the University of Vermont 2-1 in its first game, and then shutout the Catamounts 3-0 in game two. The Beavers were strong defensively in game one, out-shooting UVM 33-12. Madison Hutchinson and Hanna Moher each recorded two-points in the game after Hutchinson scored the game-winning goal and Moher tallied two assists. Sophomore Emma Terres scored the first goal on the power play and senior Whitney Wivoda added an assist to close out the Beaver scoring.

The Beavers followed that performance with another strong defensive effort. Junior goaltender Brittni Mowat helped BSU earn a 3-0 shutout after she stopped all 30 shots by the Catamounts. The shutout marks the first of the season for Mowat, and the 11th of her career. Hutchinson recorded two points for the second-consecutive game after tallying two assists. BSU had eight student-athletes contribute points in the game, and Ciscely Nelson, Kristin Huber, and Hanna Moher each scored goals for the Beavers.