Continuing a trend of solid play of late, Bemidji State found itself in yet another tight defensive battle. But unlike last weekend when the Beavers couldn’t catch a break against Minnesota-Duluth, BSU got one at just the right time in defeating Minnesota State 2-1.
Jessica Pullar was awarded the game-winner for Bemidji State (6-17-2, 5-14-0 WCHA) in dealing the Mavericks (9-11-3, 6-9-2) their ninth straight contest without a victory.
Tied at one with just under five minutes to play, BSU’s Haley Balcum threw the puck at a crowd of players, which had gathered on the doorstep of goalie Brit Kehler’s crease, and seconds later, the puck found the back of the net. Originally thought to have gone off a Maverick defender, the goal was later credited to Pullar, whose skate touched the puck last. Like the Beavers’ win at Ridder Arena just two weeks ago, they found themselves with a 2-1 lead thanks to Pullar, who tallied both goals against Minnesota.
“I was thinking that same thing,” said Beavers goalie Emily Brookshaw, who stopped 27 shots to earn the victory. “As soon as we scored that second goal, I just knew I couldn’t give up a goal.”
Neither team could get too much momentum early. The Mavericks controlled the puck in their zone for a good chunk of the first period, firing 13 shots at Brookshaw, all of which she stopped. Both teams entered the first intermission without a goal, but both teams had their chances. MSU had a 13-12 shot advantage, but Bemidji had the better scoring chances, firing shots just feet from Kehler.
“Defensively we need to communicate better,” said Mavericks coach Jeff Vizenor. “We didn’t do the things we needed to. We didn’t communicate off of our switches, and we didn’t do the things defensively to keep them outside.”
It didn’t take BSU long to capitalize in the second. Kelly Hart took a long pass from Helena Tageson, weaved around a Maverick defenseman, and pushed a wrister past Kehler at 4:18 to give the Beavers the 1-0 lead.
Nearing the end of the second frame, the Mavericks tied the score. Freshman Felicia Nelson finished off a scurry in front of the Bemidji net. Fellow freshman Maggie Fisher took a stab at the loose puck, as did sophomore Brittany Mackley, but it was Nelson’s diligence in front of the net that finally put the puck past Brookshaw. The goal capped a good period for the trio, who had been up and down the ice for MSU during the middle frame, nearly capitalizing on at least two other opportunities.
“Anytime Felicia and Maggie are playing together they have great chemistry,” Vizenor said. “Britt’s just going to go hard and not be concerned about getting the points herself but setting up others. She did a great job of complementing them tonight.”
Both teams fired nine shots on goal in the second, while BSU led in that category 8-6 in the final period. The win was big for the Beavers. Not long ago, a 2-1 lead that late in a game rarely worked in their favor.
“In the past, we would have tied that game or lost it in overtime,” said BSU interim co-head coach Jim Ingman. “We are learning how to win those games, and it’s great to see the players buckling down in those situations.”
Both coaches indicated they will stick with their same goalie in tomorrow’s series finale. The Beavers will look for their first series sweep since last February, when Bemidji took a pair from MSU on the same ice as this weekend. Face-off from All Seasons Arena is scheduled for 4:07 p.m.
