University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
14-5-1, 9-4-1-0
Bemidji State
6-10-2, 4-7-1-1
Gophers Drop 4-2 Decision to Beavers
12/2/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Single-Game Tickets
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 6 Minnesota women's hockey team settled for a WCHA series split with visiting Bemidji State, dropping a 4-2 decision at Ridder Arena Saturday evening after winning game one of the series 3-2 in overtime.
Minnesota (14-5-1, 9-4-1-0 WCHA) received goals from Alex Woken and Grace Zumwinkle, but the Beavers broke a 2-2 tie with a pair of third-period goals to spoil the weekend sweep.
Bemidji State (6-10-2, 4-7-1-1 WCHA) was led by its top line of Jacqueline Kaasa (2g-1a), Emily Bergland (1g-2a), and Bailey Wright (1g-1a) and received 24 saves from goaltender Lauren Bench.
Head coach @FrostBrad reflects on the #Gophers' 4-2 loss to Bemidji State. pic.twitter.com/Fg3xzowm1j
-- Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) December 3, 2017
The teams traded goals in each of the first two periods. The Beavers got on the board first when Gopher goaltender Sidney Peters saved an initial shot by Wright, but Kaasa fired the rebound through traffic in the slot to make it 1-0 BSU at the 3:15 mark of the opening period.
Minnesota answered just 23 seconds later when Sophie Skarzynski tipped the puck to Woken, who poked it past Bench on her stick side to tie the game at 1-1 and set off Minnesota's annual Teddy Bear Toss to benefit the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital.
The Gophers then took a 2-1 lead on a Zumwinkle slapshot at 2:17 of the second period. Emily Brown fed Cara Piazza streaking into the neutral zone, and Piazza found Zumwinkle moving up the far wall where she ripped a shot from the point past Bench.
However, the Beavers got the game-tying goal from Wright, who poked a rebound past Peters midway through the middle frame. Peters stopped the initial shot from the point by Mak Langei, but Wright buried the rebound at 13:17 of the second.
Bemidji State then took a 3-2 lead with 14:46 remaining in the game on Kaasa's second goal of the night, the eventual game-winner, and extended its lead to two goals just 46 seconds later on a breakaway goal from Berglund. The play was initially not ruled a goal as the puck seemed to have bounced off the cross bar and back into play, but a lengthy review confirmed it was a good goal.
The Gophers swarmed the BSU zone in the game's final three minutes, pulling Peters for the extra attacker and gaining a 6-on-4 advantage when the Beavers took a late penalty, but could not come back from the two-goal deficit.
For the game, both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play. The Beavers had the edge in shots on goal, 28-26, as Bench and Peters both made 24 saves.
Minnesota closes out the first half of the season by hosting Minnesota Duluth next weekend. The Gophers and Bulldogs face off at 7:07 p.m. CT Friday, Dec. 8 and 4:07 p.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 9 at Ridder Arena.
On Friday, the first 500 fans will receive a Gopher Women's Hockey holiday themed knit beanie. Saturday's game is Minnesota's Salute to Service Day; discounted tickets are available at the box office for military and first responders. Next week is also Goldy's Kids Club Weekend at Ridder Arena. Activities for Goldy's Kids Club members will be available on the concourse.
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