Former CEC Standout Gets OT Game Winning Goal

Dec 10

Northland Sports Online.

The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team picked up its first overtime victory of the season downing the Mavericks of Minnesota State 2-1 just 56 seconds into the OT period. Former CEC star defender, junior Montana Vichorek came up huge for the Beavers as she netted the game-winning goal just 56 seconds into overtime and with four seconds left on a BSU power play.

Minnesota State’s Kathleen Rogan scored the first goal on a two-on-one breakaway with MSU’s Olympian Nina Tikkinen. The win is the first for BSU this season after an opponent scored first, the Beavers were 0-6-1 in games where they did not score the first goal of the game.

“We got better as the game went on, our players came through at the end and it’s three really big points on the road,” commented head coach Steve Sertich. “It’s always tough to play on the road and I knew Minnesota State would play tough and they did. Specialty teams were key tonight; we were able to kill off our penalties and string together a power-play goal there at the end.”

In the first period the two teams skated fairly even with BSU out-shooting the Mavericks 11-10, but it was MSU that took the first advantage netting a goal at the 16:13 mark of the period.

With the one goal deficit, the Beavers wanted to battle back and that’s just what they did. Out-shooting the Mavericks 9-5 in the second, BSU went on the prowl for a game-tying goal. In the MSU end, MacKenzie Thurston (So., Fwd., Ottawa, Ontario) carried the puck behind the goal. Thurston saw line mate Lauren Williams (Jr., Fwd., Eagan, Minn.) open in front of the net and made a centering pass to her. Williams attempted to get the shot off, but a Maverick defender broke up the shot and the rebound went the far side of the net where Emily Erickson (R-So., Fwd., Coleraine, Minn.) tapped home her ninth goal of the season.

The tying goal came at the 15:35 mark of the second and would be the last for the Beavers in regulation. In the third period Minnesota State played more aggressively on the puck breaking up a majority of the potent chances for BSU, but failed to generate any real offense of its own and was out-shot by Bemidji State 12-3 in the period. With 57seconds left in the third, MSU made an error on a line change and was assessed with having too many players on the ice.

Headed into the third overtime period of the season, Bemidji State would start this one off with a 1:03 power play. Within the first minute of the period Erin Cody (Sr., Fwd., Roseville, Minn.) found herself cycling the puck behind the MSU net. She saw Erika Wheelhouse (So., Def., Crookston, Minn.) open at the point and made a pass out to her. Wheelhouse then immediately dished the puck over to her defensive pair Montana Vichorek. Vichorek then walked in to take a slap shot on net, however, her shot hit a MSU forward and the puck luckily fell within arms reach of Vichorek. She then corralled the loose puck unopposed and fired the puck again, this time beating MSU tender Allie Altmann over her glove. With the win Bemidji State improves to 8-7-2 (6-5-2-1 WCHA) on the season and remains tied for fourth place with Minnesota. Minnesota State now drops to 6-11-2 (5-8-0-0 WCHA) and is now six points behind Bemidji State in the conference standings. The two teams finish the weekend with a rematch tomorrow afternoon slated for 3:07 p.m. at the All Seasons Arena in Mankato, Minn.

Vichorek is the daughter of Mark and Betty Vichorek of Moose Lake. Vichorek’s father played collegiately at Lake Superior State as well as professionally for nearly a decade.

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