Even with sophomore goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova absent for the Olympics, the Bemidji State University (BSU) women’s hockey team held the North Dakota Sioux to just two goals in this weekend’s series, losing 2-0 Friday, and winning 1-0 Saturday. The weekend split leaves the Beavers in 5th place in the conference, one point away from obtaining home ice advantage for the playoffs.
Sophomore Alana McElhinney was in goal for the Beavers for just the tenth time of the season and played solid in both games, recording her second shut out of the season on Saturday night. The win Saturday was not only her second shut out, but her second win in as many weeks.
“We definitely went into the season knowing that we wouldn't have her [Tomcikova] for the last couple of series,” McElhinney said regarding Tomcikova leaving for the Olympics. “I really just tried to treat every practice like it was a game situation and tried to take advantage of the playing time that I did get.”
McElhinney made 36 saves in Friday’s game, 32 in the first two periods alone, only letting one goal in. The second goal scored by the Sioux was an empty netter.
The Sioux controlled the first two periods of the game, outshooting the Beavers 32 to 13, but both goalies rose to the challenge, keeping the scoreboard blank for the first 40 minutes.
The Sioux struck in the final period with just under 6 minutes remaining, finally solving McElhinney. The Beavers seemed to control the third period however, managing to get 24 shots on net, to make it a game total of 37.
With just one minute remaining, McElhinney was pulled from the net to act as extra attacker, but the Sioux found the empty net with just 3 seconds remaining, to ice the game 2-0.
The Beavers managed to earn the split, while only scoring one goal all weekend. The lone Beaver goal for the weekend was scored with just 20 seconds remaining in the third period Saturday night.
With 1:05 minutes remaining, and overtime looking highly probable, UND took a penalty, giving the Beavers the power play in the final minute.
Bemidji State junior forward Annie Bauerfeld received the puck off of a rebound and passed it to sophomore defensemen Montana Vichorek, who then found freshmen forward Keirstin Visser on the right point. Visser took the shot in traffic and found the back of the net with just 20 ticks left on the clock.
It took the Beavers almost two full games to solve the Sioux goaltenders, but by working together they were able to make the one goal to catch the split.
“The girls really came out to play on Saturday night,” McElhinney said. “Everyone had their legs under them and we managed to get a lot more shots on net and keep the puck in their end for a good amount of time.”
The Beavers take the ice for the last regular season game in the John Glas Fieldhouse next Friday and Saturday at 2:07 p.m. when they take on Minnesota-Duluth.
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