Buckeyes edge Bemidji St. in overtime

BEMIDJI – The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team battled to a 1-1 tie through regulation Friday against Ohio State University but the Buckeyes scored 41 seconds into overtime to earn a 2-1 victory.

The loss dropped the Beavers to 5-18-2 and 4-16-2 in league play

In the opening 20 minutes each team played conservatively, combining for 13 shots. OSU had seven shots on goal and three more that clanked off the pipe.

The Beavers, who blocked 26 shots on the afternoon, took a 1-0 lead 2:11 into the second period when Natasha Kostenko took a pass from Abby Williams at center ice, drove into the Buckeyes’ zone and scored.

Kostenko now has at least a point in eight of her last 10 games and leads the Beavers with eight goals. Williams has an assist in three of her last six games after going without a point through the season’s first 18 games.

Ohio State knotted the score five minutes into the third period. Kim Theut threw the puck on net and Tina Hollowell went upstairs on Bemidji State netminder Abby Ryplanski.

Both teams had chances to win in regulation but neither side could convert.

Bemidji State and Ohio State will complete their series 2:07 p.m. today at the Sanford Center. The Beavers will end the regular season with trips to North Dakota and Minnesota and a home series against Wisconsin.

Ohio St. 0 0 1 1 - 2

BSU 0 1 0 0 - 1

First period – No scoring

Second period – 1, BSU, Kostenko (Williams) 2:11

Third period – 2, OSU, Hollowell (Theut, Zubko) 4:33

Overtime – 3, OSU, Tarr (unassisted) 0:41

Shots – Ohio State 7-5-7-1-20; BSU 6-5-9-0-20

Saves – Knapp (OSU) 19-20; Ryplanski (BSU) 18-20

Penalties-minutes – Ohio State 2-4; BSU 3-6