Lady Gophers Sweep Bemidji State

BEMIDJI, MN (GopherSports.com) –  Late heroics by Lee Stecklein and Dani Cameranesi lifted the Gophers to a 2-1 overtime win over Bemidji State Saturday.

Stecklein scored the game-winning goal just 47 seconds into overtime after Cameranesi tied the game at 1-1 on a power-play goal with 6:39 remaining in regulation.

"What an awesome win, it was a very exciting game tonight," head coach Brad Frost said. "It was one of those times where you just hope something goes in eventually. If it didn't, we would have still been really pleased with how we played in the second and third."

Lauren Miller gave the Beavers a 1-0 lead midway through the first period off an assist from Stephanie Anderson. Bemidji State's one-goal lead held up through two periods despite the Gophers outshooting the home team 15-8 in the second stanza and 29-23 through two periods. Minnesota (24-3-0, 19-3-0 WCHA) trailed for just the third time this season heading into the third period.

Cameranesi tied it up at 1-1 when she scored her NCAA-best 12th power-play goal of the season with 6:39 remaining. She tipped a shot by Sydney Baldwin past BSU netminder Brittni Mowat after Baldwin took a pass from Kate Schipper and fired a shot from the top of the slot.

The Gophers were one-for-one on the power play for the second-straight game while holding Bemidji State (17-9-2, 12-9-1-0 WCHA) scoreless on two power plays in the series.

Amanda Leveille finished with 28 saves while Mowat had 42 saves for BSU. The Gophers outshot the Beavers, 44-29.

Minnesota returns home to host No. 8 North Dakota (14-8-4, 11-7-4-3 WCHA) at Ridder Arena next weekend. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday.