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MANKATO – Morgan Smith had her best game as a Beaver on Saturday in Mankato.

The Bemidji State women’s hockey freshman forward scored thrice in a 5-3 loss against Minnesota State. Smith scored a powerplay goal in the first and second period, then an even-strength goal in the third.

Makenna Deering and Isa Goettl assisted on two of Smith’s tallies, both on the power play. Hailey Armstrong and Izy Fairchild also picked up helpers.

The Mavericks, however, still had too much juice, preventing BSU from earning a series split. Both Jamie Nelson and Claire Vekich scored twice, while Mackenzie Bourgerie added another. MSU scored a pair of power-play goals. Vekich’s second goal was an empty-netter.

Kaitlin Groess made 24 saves for Bemidji State. Hailey Hansen stopped 10 shots for the Mavericks.

Minnesota State 5, Bemidji State 3

BSU 1 1 1 – 3

MSU 2 1 2 – 5

First period – MSU GOAL: Nelson (Ju. Gazkid, Vekich) PPG, 8:24; BSU GOAL: Nelson (unassisted) 14:11; BSU GOAL: Smith (Goettl, Deering) PPG, 18:55.

Second period – MSU GOAL: Vekich (Paddington, Ju. Gazdik) PPG, 5:28; BSU GOAL: Smith (Deering, Goettl) PPG, 12:14.

Third period – MSU GOAL: Bourgerie (Langseth, Seifert) 11:58; BSU GOAL: Smith (Armstrong, Fairchild) 13:34; MSU GOAL: Vekich (unassisted) ENG, 19:24.

Saves – Groess (BSU) 24; Hansen (MSU) 10.