Bemidji State junior center Amber Fryklund turned in the seventh hat trick in the program’s history to lead BSU past the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks, 4-1, in WCHA play Friday at the All Seasons Arena.
Fryklund, now the only player in BSU history with two career hat tricks, tied the score at 1-1 with her first goal, unassisted at 10:47 of the second, knocked home the eventual game-winner on a power play at 14:23 of the second and completed her hat trick with 4:49 elapsed in the third.
Kerri McEwen scored BSU’s only other goal, an even-strength tally at 16:40 of the second. Lisa Peters assisted on each of Fryklund’s final two goals
The Mavericks got on the board first with an even-strength goal from reigning WCHA Rookie of the Week Kearstin Solberg less than three minutes into the game. From that point on, the game belonged to BSU.
“We came out early and dominated, but we just couldn’t score,” BSU head coach Jason Lesteberg said. “They chipped one in, and then we started to finish our plays. We showed a lot more tenacity towards the net. We needed to put shots away, and we started doing that.”
The win gives the Beavers five consecutive wins over the Mavericks, tied for the longest BSU winning streak ever over a single opponent. BSU defeated Wayne State in five consecutive meetings from Oct, 29, 1999 to Oct. 20, 2000. It also evens BSU’s all-time record against the Mavericks at 5-5-1, its best record against any WCHA opponent.
BSU picked up its fourth win of the season in just its seventh start, setting a new school record, as BSU’s 4-1-2 record continues the best start in school history. BSU also has six points in WCHA play after five games, topping its previous best league start of four points after five games (2-3-0), set last year.
Bre Dedrickson picked up the win for BSU. She saved 24 of 25 shots and improved her season record to 3-1-2.
Bemidji State improved to 2-1-2 in WCHA play, while MSU-Mankato’s record for the season fell to 2-7-0 (0-5-0 in the WCHA). The teams wrap up their two-game series Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. at All Seasons Arena.
