Bemidji State women's hockey: Beavers regular season ends with loss to Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. - No. 2 ranked Wisconsin defeated the Bemidji State women's hockey team 5-2 Saturday afternoon in the final game of the season for both teams.

Three first-period goals by the Badgers were too much for the Beavers to overcome, despite a career-high 49 saves by BSU goalie Zuzana Tomcikova.

The Beavers end the regular season with a 6-23-5 record overall and a 3-22-3-2 mark in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Wisconsin finished 27-2-5 overall and 21-2-5-3 in the WCHA.

The Beavers ended the regular season with 11 points in Association play after having four points last season.

All 11 points were earned in the second half of the season.

Minnesota captured the regular season WCHA title Saturday by defeating North Dakota 3-1, meaning the Beavers will travel to Ridder Arena next week for a first-round playoff series. The winner advances to the WCHA Final Face Off in two weeks.

Wisconsin came out firing on all cylinders, getting two goals in the first 6:04 from Jasmine Giles and Hilary Knight. Meghan Duggan added a power-play tally with 3:34 left in the period.

The Beavers played tough and Babineau cut Wisconsin's lead to 3-1 with a goal at 6:18 of the second period on assists from Erin Cody and Franny Dorr.

Babineau's goal snapped a nine-game shutout streak to the Badgers dating back to Nov. 19, 2006. It was also Babineau's first goal since Jan. 2, and the first of her career against a WCHA opponent.

Knight scored just 24 seconds later to put the Beavers down 4-1.

Bemidji State scored the final goal of the second period when Bauerfeld scored with 2:28 left on an assist from Ashley Lopold.

Lawler ended the scoring at 8:49 of the third period to put Wisconsin up 5-2.

BSU was outshot 54-15 and was 0-for-2 on the power-play. Wisconsin was 1-for-3 on the power play.

Wisconsin goalie Jessie Vetter finished with 14 saves.