Bemidji State's Mackenzie Thurston shoots the puck as Minnesota State University, Mankato's Jenna Peterson tries to block during the first period of Saturday night's game at Sanford Center. Pioneer Photo/Eric Stromgren
The Bemidji State women’s hockey team returned to form in a 4-0 win over Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday night at the Sanford Center.
The Beavers never trailed and earned the series split with help from senior goalie Zuzana Tomcikova’s record-setting night.
The Slovakian Olympian had 30 saves in breaking Emily Brookshaw’s program records for career saves (3,075) and minutes played (6,075:02).
Tomcikova came in after Brookshaw graduated in 2008 and has started the majority of games since she arrived on campus. The shutout was Tomcikova’s 17th career shutout at Bemidji State, which added to the record she set as a sophomore.
Danielle Williams scored her first two goals of the season in the win. Marlee Wheelhouse and Sadie Lundquist also scored for BSU.
Bemidji State (13-8-2, 7-8-1 WCHA) remains at home to face Ohio State next Friday and Saturday night in a WCHA series at the Sanford Center.
Unlike Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Mavericks (7-15-0, 3-13-0 WCHA), the Beavers played with a better defensive effort and limited Mankato’s scoring opportunities.
Danielle Williams scored 6:53 into the second period for Bemidji State’s first goal. Rachel Kelly made a move in the corner, skated away from the boards and passed to Williams on the other side of the crease for her first goal of the year.
Marlee Wheelhouse put Bemidji State ahead 2-0 with 4:01 left in the second period. She slapped a shot under the crossbar from the top of the left circle for her seventh goal of the season.
The Williams and Wheelhouse goals were part of a dominating second period for the Beavers, which outshot the Mavericks 18-5. BSU outshot Mankato 46-30 in the game.
Lundquist gave BSU the 3-0 advantage when she put back a rebound from Montana Vichorek’s slap shot off the post 32 seconds into the third period.
Abby Williams scored her second of the night with 8:58 to play when she deflected Vichorek’s slap shot from the blue line. She put her stick on the puck at the front of the net and it skipped under the crossbar.
Scoring Summary
MSU 0 0 0 – 0
BSU 0 2 2 – 4
First period – No scoring.
Secod period – 1, BSU Williams 1 (Kelly, A. Williams), 6:53. 2, BSU M. Wheelhouse 7 (D. Williams, Kelly), 15:59.
Third period – 3, BSU Lundquist 9 (Vichorek, E. Wheelhouse), :32. 4, BSU D. Williams 2 (Vichorek, A. Williams), 11:02.
Shots on goal – MSU, 15-5-10-30. BSU, 13-18-15-46.
Goalies – MSU, Altmann (46-42). BSU, Tomcikova (30-30).
Power plays – MSU, 0-for-2. BSU, 1-for-5.
A- 642.
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