BEMIDJI-Late heroics by Lee Stecklein and Dani Cameranesi lifted the No. 3 University of Minnesota Golden Gophers to a 2-1 overtime win and series sweep Saturday on the road at No. 7 Bemidji State.
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.
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.
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Amanda Leveille finished with 28 saves, while Mowat made 42 saves for BSU. The Gophers outshot the Beavers 44-29.
--gophersports.com
