GIRLS HOCKEY: Bemidji skates to 3-3 tie with Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS – Bemidji scored twice in the first period and had a 3-1 lead in the third but couldn’t hold on against Grand Rapids-Greenway, instead settling for a 3-3 tie after overtime Tuesday night.

“We started off decently, and played a good second period, but we came out sloppy in the third period,” BHS head coach Bob Brink said. “You can’t give up three third-period goals.”

The Lumberjacks (0-0-2) took an early 2-0 lead with two first-period goals from Savanna Hanson and Karleigh Wolkerstorfer.

Neither team scored in the second period, but the Lightning (0-0-1) got on the board with a tally by Meghan Cemensky in the third period.

Hanson’s second goal, at the 5:33 mark of the third, gave the Jacks a 3-1 cushion, but the Lightning’s Jordan McLaughlin scored twice in the span of a minute – at 14:18 and 14:57 – to tie things up at 3-3.

“It could have gone either way,” Brink said. “We walked out of there wishing we would have won, but we’re also glad we didn’t lose. It’s still early, so we’re excited for the possibilities.”

BHS goaltender Leighton Rockensock made 34 saves – including 17 in the third period – to help the Jacks preserve the tie. Grand Rapids netminder Sydney Helmbrecht made 28 saves.

The Jacks return to the ice Friday for their home opener. They’ll host South St. Paul at Bemidji Community Arena.

Bemidji 2 0 1 0 – 3

Grand Rapids 0 0 3 0 – 3

First period – 1, B, Hanson (Isaacson, Heifort), 9:32. 2, B, Wolkerstorfer (unassisted, shorthanded), 16:53.

Second period – No scoring

Third period – 3, GR, Cemensky (Heitkamp, McLaughlin), 4:17. 4, B, Hanson (Isaacson, shorthanded), 5:33. 5, GR, McLaughlin (unassisted), 14:18. 6, McLaughlin (Brown, Holum), 14:57.

Overtime – No scoring

Shots on goal – B 7-8-10-6=31; GR 11-4-20-2=37

Goalies – B, Rockensock (37-34); EGF, Helmbrecht (31-28)

Penalties-Minutes – B, 4-8; EGF 2-4