MN Women’s Hockey Team Skates to Tie

MINNEAPOLIS – The top-ranked Minnesota women's hockey team skated to a 2-2 overtime tie with visiting Bemidji State at Ridder Arena Friday night. The Beavers earned an extra point in the WCHA standings with a shootout win.

"It's a tough result, losing another shootout, but I thought it was a good hockey game here tonight," head coach Brad Frost said. "I thought Bemidji played extremely well, especially through the first two periods. They continued to block shots and cause problems around their net. They make it very difficult to get into the scoring area, but I'm proud of our kids for how we battled in the third."

Minnesota (7-0-2, 5-0-2-0 WCHA) led 1-0 on a goal by freshman Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.), but the Beavers scored two goals to take a 2-1 lead midway through the third period. Sophomore Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.) then scored the game-tying goal with 1:18 remaining to force overtime.

The teams were scoreless for the first period and a half before Pannek netted her first collegiate goal at 12:35 of the middle frame. BSU countered with a goal by Rachael Kelly with 1:02 remaining in the second to take a 1-1 tie into the second intermission.Redshirt freshman goaltender Sidney Peters(Geneva, Ill.) made 19 saves in her second career game for the Gophers. Meanwhile, BSU goaltender Brittni Mowat made 47 saves and is now 2-2-1 on the year.

It looked like the Gophers took a 2-1 lead midway through the third period, but a goal by Cameranesi was waived off due to contact with the goaltender. BSU scored its own go-ahead goal just 30 seconds later when Lauren Miller solved Peters at 12:20 of the third.

However, Cameranesi successfully found the back of the net with 1:18 remaining, scoring on the Gophers' third power play of the game. Senior Rachel Ramsey (Chanhassen, Minn.) fired a shot from the point, and Cameranesi redirected it past Mowat. Sophomore Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.) also picked up an assist on the play.

The Gophers outshot the Beavers, 49-21, for the game, including a 27-7 advantage in the third period. Bemidji State (4-4-1, 0-4-1-1 WCHA) held the advantage in overtime, 4-3.

Minnesota and Bemidji State wrap up the series at 4 p.m. CT Saturday. The Gophers invite all fans to wear gold to Saturday's game for a "Gold Out" at Ridder Arena, and all fans will receive a gold rally towel. In addition, Minnesota will host its annual Skate with the Gophers event following the game.