Bemidji State defeated Minnesota, 1-0, to reach its first WCHA title game.
“I’m sure there weren’t that many people outside of our locker room that gave us a chance, which has kind of been our mantra all year long,” first-year coach Jim Scanlan said. “We’ve got to just keep believing in ourselves.”
Former Gopher Stephanie Anderson came back to haunt her old team, scoring on a partial break at 11:46 of the third period for the game’s only goal.
“I had some space going up,” Anderson said. “It was toward the end of a shift, so I was a little tired. [Meghan] Lorence caught up to me and gave my stick a little slash. I went down to my right and just the way I was spinning, it hit my shin pad and I think it went in five hole. So it was just a lucky bounce and we’ll take it.”
The officials reviewed the play and determined that there was no indication of a kicking motion, so the call of a good goal made on the ice stood.
The Beavers (21-16-1, 13-14-1-1 WCHA) didn’t score on the power play that resulted from the slashing penalty assessed to Lorence, their only opportunity with the advantage. They successfully killed two penalties of their own.
Brittni Mowat made 37 saves to earn her seventh shutout of her sophomore season.
“I thought our defense played great in front of me,” she said. “The forwards backchecked hard, and I didn’t think we gave the Gophers too many opportunities. What they did have, I kind of turned aside, and I think a lot of credit can go to my D.”
Minnesota (31-3-4, 22-2-4-2 WCHA) had more chances in the second period, holding a 17-5 shot advantage, but Anderson may have been off to the races had the buzzer not sounded as she collected the puck at the center line with nothing but clear ice looming.
“I told coach, ‘I could have bought five more seconds there,'” Anderson said. “Luckily, I got another chance and put it home.”
The closest either team came to scoring in the first period came when Maryanne Menefee’s deflection of a Megan Wolfe shot bounced off the inside of the post and away.
“Certainly that puck hitting the pipe was a huge break, and you always take those,” Scanlan said. “Once we got through that first 20 [minutes], 0-0, it certainly helped.”
The loss ends a string of three straight WCHA Final Face-Off titles for the Gophers.
“Bemidji earned it,” coach Brad Frost said. “I didn’t think we played a poor game by any stretch of the imagination. We had some great chances, and when you don’t score, obviously, it makes it pretty difficult to win a hockey game. Credit them for blocking shots and some great saves.”
He pointed out that Minnesota has lost three games this season, all by shutout. Two of those were administered by the Beavers.
“It’s been the same Bemidji hockey for four years since I’ve been here,” said Gophers senior co-captain Rachel Ramsey. “Dump and chase, very aggressive, block a lot of shots, and they play desperate, whether it’s right now or it’s in September. Got to give credit to them for how well they played, but hopefully, we’re on the up next weekend.”
Minnesota will host an NCAA quarterfinal, while Bemidji State needs to win on Sunday to earn a spot in the national tourney.
