Visiting Bemidji State came out firing with 10 shots in the first four minutes of the game but failed to sustain that intensity in a 6-4 defeat against WCHA newcomer North Dakota.
The eventual game-winning goal came 14:13 into the second period from UND junior defenseman Devon Fingland, who finished the game with a goal and two assists. She picked up a loose puck at center ice, caught the defense flat-footed and beat freshman goalie Emily Brookshaw, who had just entered the game. After the 5-2 deficit, Brookshaw settled down to stop 8 of 9 shots in the third period, but the damage had already been done to Bemidji (1-8. 0-7).
UND’s sophomore goalie Jenna Burdy was sharp from the get-go in her first start of the year. She made several saves in tight, including several on the penalty kill, to help the Sioux (3-6, 3-6 WCHA) survive the early barrage of shots.
“It was just my time and I was ready for it,” Burdy said of her start. “I play my best when I get bombarded with shots.”
The Beavers had another flurry of shots in the last half of the third period as Bemidji cut the lead to 5-4, but Burdy again was strong finishing the game with 25 saves.
“She had some big saves for us,” said UND coach Shantel Rivard.
BSU did get four goals past Burdy, three of which came from sophomore forward Nikki Eckebrecht. She tied the game 2-2 in the first, and single-handedly cut the BSU three-goal deficit to 5-4 with two goals. But UND struck again at 13:31 of the third on freshman Cami Wooster’s fifth goal of the year, for the 6-4 final.
Liz Funk, who leads the Sioux with eight points this year, opened the scoring for the Sioux at 7:45 of the first period with her fifth goal of the year.
Laplante turned in another solid game scoring her third goal of the season and adding an assist. She is second on the team in scoring with seven points.
UND was aggressive on the forecheck, both on even strength and the penalty kill, and only allowed one power play goal on six attempts. BSU got eight shots on their first power play but could not score, only earned four shots on the next five power plays total. UND finished 2 of 5 on its own power play.
“That’s something that we always want to do, we’re a team that likes to work hard.” Rivard said
“I was real disappointed in our effort, but then again I thought North Dakota won all the battles, they were more of a heads-up team,” said Bemidji coach Bruce Olson.
The Sioux defense was strong in front of the net clearing rebounds and helping their goalie to only have to make one save at a time.
“Our defense played wonderful, especially in the second and third.” Burdy said.
The teams rematch Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
