University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
28-2-4, 21-2-4WCHA
Bemidji State
18-14-1,13-13-1WCHA
Bona's Late Goal Lifts Gophers Past BSU, 3-2
2/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
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Feb. 20, 2015
BEMIDJI, Minn. - Senior Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids, Minn.) broke a 2-2 tie with 1:45 remaining and sophomore Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.) and junior Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) each scored second-period goals to lead No. 2 Minnesota to a 3-2 win over Bemidji State at the Sanford Center Friday afternoon.
Minnesota (28-2-4, 21-2-4-2 WCHA) took a 2-1 lead after BSU got on the board first, but the Beavers tied the game early in the third period. Bona then scored her third game-winning goal of the year in the final two minutes to secure the 3-2 win.
"It was a hard-fought game here tonight, exactly what we expected," head coach Brad Frost said. "I was really proud of how our kids battled in the second period and were able to get the lead there.
"In the first period, Bemidji really had some great chances. I thought we had some chances as well, but in the second period the tide turned. Then to battle back again after they tied it, they did a great job with a nice two-on-one goal. Our kids stuck with it and were able to get the win."
Bemidji State (18-14-1, 13-13-1-1 WCHA) received 40 saves from goaltender Brittni Mowat as the Gophers outshot the Beavers, 43-19. Junior netminder Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont.) made 17 saves for Minnesota.
Junior Milica McMillen (St. Paul, Minn.) tallied two assists, joining Brandt and Cameranesi in recording multi-point games for the Gophers.
BSU took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission off a goal by Alex Citrowski, who flipped the puck past Leveille midway through the first period.
"We had to increase our battle level," Frost said of the team's adjustment after the opening period. "They're big, strong and fast, and they block a lot of shots. We had to get more pucks and bodies to the net, and I thought we had a lot of success being able to do that on our goals in the second period."
Cameranesi evened the score at 1-1 with 14:24 to go in the second period, scoring her 20th goal of the season. The puck got tied up in front of the BSU net, and Cameranesi scooped it up and put it past Mowat. Brandt and McMillen picked up assists on the play.
Brandt then gave the Gophers the lead with 11:07 to go in the middle frame. Ramsey fired a shot from just inside the blue line, and Brandt redirected it past Mowat from in front of the Beavers' goal crease.
The Beavers tallied the equalizer at 6:22 of the third period when a Kaitlyn Tougas shot snuck past Leveille. BSU's Ivana Bilic and Stephanie Anderson picked up assists on the play. Bona then scored the game-winner for the Gophers with just 1:45 remaining.
Neither team committed a penalty, marking the first time the Gophers have not had a penalty since Oct. 31, 2014 against BSU, and the first time an opponent has not taken a penalty since Bemidji State stayed out of the box against Minnesota on Oct. 26, 2013.
The Gophers look to wrap up the 2014-15 regular season with a sweep over the Beavers as the series concludes at 2 p.m. CT Saturday.
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