WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Bemidji State scores three unanswered goals to top Providence 3-2

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Bemidji State women’s hockey team scored three unanswered goals to win their season opener 3-2 on the road at Providence Friday night.

The Beavers (1-0) got goals from Kayleigh Chapman, Alex Ehlert and Natasha Kostenko – who scored the game-winner – while Jessica Havel earned her first collegiate win in net.

“What a great comeback on the road from our players today,” BSU head coach Steve Sertich said. “Providence is a nice little team. They’re young and fast. They started off well but we got better as the game went on.”

Trailing 2-0 with 1:26 to play in the second period, sophomore Kayleigh Chapman scored on a one-timer to get the Beavers on the scoreboard and spark a three-goal comeback.

Ehlert added the first goal of her career at the 12:45 mark and also assisted on sophomore Natasha Kostenko’s game-winning goal with just over five minutes left in regulation to tilt the score in favor of the Beavers.

In her first collegiate start in net, Havel turned aside 24 shots to gain the victory.

Molly Illikainen and Nicole Anderson both scored for Providence.

BSU now 1-0-0 overall, wraps up its nonconference, season-opening series with Providence at 3 p.m. today.

Bemidji State 3, Providence College 2
BSU 0 1 2 – 3
PC 1 1 0 – 2
First period – 1, PC, Illikainen 1 (Morse, Groth), 5:28.
Second period – 2, PC, Anderson 1 (Morse), 9:24. 3, BSU Chapman 1 (Lushanko, McKnight), 18:34.
Third Period – 4, Ehlert 1 (Tougas, Wivoda), 7:35. 5, BSU, Kostenko 1 (Thurston, Ehlert), 14:05.
Shots On Goal – BSU, 7-12-9=28; PC, 9-11-6=26.
Goalies – BSU, Havel (26-24). PC, Riley (28-25).
Power Plays – BSU, 0- 5. PC, 0-3.
Penalties-Minutes – BSU, 3-6. PC, 5-10.