BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Minnesota State dropped a 3-2 decision to Bemidji State in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest Saturday night at the Sanford Center.

With the loss, the Mavericks' four-game winning streak comes to a close. They now stand 9-10-0 overall with a 5-10-0 record in conference action. The Beavers are 7-10-2 with a 4-10-1 record in league play. 

The first period was a scoreless one between the in-state rivals. The Beavers were edging the Mavericks 7-6 in shots on goal after 20 minutes of play.

In the second period, senior forward Brittyn Fleming opened the scoring for the Mavericks at 6:18 on the power play. Fleming scored her seventh goal of the season from the high-slot with a shot that navigated through traffic and to the right, sneaking through BSU netminder Hannah Hogenson, to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. The Beavers answered with Taylor Nelson scoring a power-play goal as well for BSU. However, it took no more than 30 seconds for junior forward Kelsey King to help the Mavericks reclaim the lead when she beat Hogenson on a breakaway at 11:20 for her team-high 10th goal of the season. After 40 minutes of play, MSU led BSU 2-1 while the Beavers maintained a one-shot edge, 22-21.

Third-period scoring opened at 3:05 with BSU tying the game 2-2 when Lydia Passolt chipped a loose puck, from a foot in front of the crease, off MSU's goaltender, Calla Frank, and into the goal. The Beavers grabbed their first lead of the night with another power-play goal, which was the eventual game-winner, at 12:02 of the third period off the stick of Claire Vekich. BSU held on there for the one-goal victory and took down MSU, 3-2, to put an end to the Mavericks' four-game winning streak.

In goal for the Mavericks, Frank made 30 saves on 33 shots. She now owns an 8-8 record this season between the pipes for MSU.

The Beavers won the shots battle, 33-28, over the Mavericks. BSU was statistically stronger on the power play with a two-for-three clip on the man advantage while MSU finished game one of the series with one goal on three power-play chances.

The Mavericks and Beavers rematch Saturday in the series finale back at the Sanford Center. Face-off is scheduled for 3:01 p.m.

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