Bemidji State ties Gophers through two periods, but falls in third

MINNEAPOLIS – The Bemidji State women’s hockey team put forth a valiant effort on Saturday in Minneapolis, hanging right in with the No. 2 team in the country through two periods.

Facing Minnesota, the Beavers conceded a goal in the opening period, but scored their own in the second to take a 1-1 tie into the second intermission. But the Gophers grasped control of the game in the third frame, scoring thrice to send BSU to a 4-1 defeat.

In the opening minutes, UM (2-0, 2-0 WCHA) took a 1-0 lead thanks to Lizi Norton’s score at 1:45. That advantage held for almost exactly 20 minutes of game clock until Kate Boland dumped in an answer for Bemidij State (2-3-1, 0-2 WCHA) at 1:34 in the second period.

The third frame was all Minnesota, though. The Gophers reassumed the advantage with Grace Zumwinkle’s goal, then doubled it with Catie Skaja’s score later in the period. And after BSU pulled goaltender Hannah Hogenson, Emily Oden scored an empty-netter at 18:37 to seal the contest.

Hogenson finished with 33 saves for the Beavers, while UM’s Skylar Vetter compiled 15 stops.

Bemidji State returns home to face defending national champion No. 1 Ohio State for a two-game series Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16, at the Sanford Center.

Minnesota 4, Bemidji State 1

BSU 0 1 0 – 1

UM 1 0 3 – 4

First period -- 1, UM GOAL, Norton (Skaja, Heise), 1:45.

Second period -- 2, BSU GOAL, Boland (Santl, Anderson), 1:34.

Third period -- 3, UM GOAL, Zumwinkle (Bouveng); 4, UM GOAL, Skaja (Heise, Boreen); 5, UM GOAL, Oden (Murphy), 18:37, EN.

Saves -- Hogenson (BSU) 33; Vetter (UM) 15.