Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State women's hockey scored three times in the first 6:04 of the first period and held on to win 3-2 and earn a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series split with Bemidji State on Saturday afternoon at Verizon Wireless Center.
Junior forward Sara Bustad (1-0--1) got the Mavericks (4-12-2, 2-11-1-0 WCHA) on the board with her first goal of the season at 2:14 in the first period. Junior forward Hannah Davidson (1-5--6) moved the puck to sophomore forward Corbin Boyd (0-5--4), who passed to Bustad. Bustad took a shot from the slot, which was kicked away by Bemidji State's (6-11-1, 4-11-1-0 WCHA) senior goaltender Brittni Mowat (5-10-1) for one of her 17 saves, but Bustad gained control of the rebound and scored on a second-shot attempt.
Minnesota State quickly doubled its lead to 2-0 when sophomore forward Emily Antony (4-4--8) garnered her team-leading fourth goal of the season – the 10th of her career – at 4:55 in the first. Sophomore forward Jordan McLaughlin (2-3--5) passed the puck to Antony, who got behind the Beaver defense and beat Mowat high on the gloveside.
Senior defenseman Anna Fiegert (1-1--2) capped off the Mavericks' first period scoring at 6:04. Fiegert launched a low slap shot from the left point that found its way past Mowat to increase the Maverick lead to 3-0. Davidson and Boyd assisted on the play.
The Beavers fought back and pulled within two when freshman forward Kike Radke (2-4--6) scored at 15:50 of the first period. Junior defenseman Alexis Joyce (2-6--8) took a shot from the left point that was redirected by Radke -- standing in the slot -- past Maverick netminder Brianna Quade (2-7-2). The Mavericks led 3-1 at the first intermission.
After neither team scored for the first 17:00 of the second period, Radke scored her second goal of the game -- a power play goal -- at 17:06 to pull the Beavers within one at 3-2. Behind the goal line, freshman forward Abby Halluska (2-2--4) chipped the puck to freshman forward Haley Mack (0-6--6) behind the Maverick net. Mack fired a pass to Radke, who finished to make the score 3-2.
Quade protected the lead with 10 of her 23 saves in the third period as Minnesota State held on for Its second WCHA win in it last four league contests.
Minnesota State has won at least two WCHA games for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
The Mavericks face No. 4 Minnesota Duluth for their final home series of 2016 on Friday and Saturday at Verizon Wireless Center.
Senior defenseman Anna Fiegert comments following the game.
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