In an exhilarating finale against the Bemidji State Beavers, Lindenwood Women’s Hockey secured a thrilling shootout victory, showcasing the remarkable talent of Zsofia Pazmandi. The game took place in Maryland Heights, Missouri, where the Lions displayed grit and determination on Saturday afternoon.
The Beavers struck first, taking the lead less than two minutes into the opening period. However, with just under two minutes left in the first, Pazmandi leveled the score at one all, thanks to a pivotal assist from Tatiana Blichova. Blichova created a turnover behind the Beavers’ net and expertly set up Pazmandi, who deftly maneuvered to her right before finding the back of the net. This late goal ensured the teams headed into the first intermission tied, despite the Lions outshooting their opponents 16-10 with Blichova and Pazmandi each contributing three shots.
The second period saw a single goal from Bemidji’s Morgan Smith with just under six minutes remaining. Despite the Beavers’ offensive momentum, the Lions’ defense remained resilient, successfully killing off two power plays, including a critical five-on-three situation. The Lions entered the final period trailing 2-1, but goaltender Lexington Secreto rose to the occasion by making 19 consecutive saves to keep Lindenwood within striking distance.
With time running out in the third, Pazmandi once again demonstrated her skills, tying the game at two with just 4:15 left on the clock. After gathering the puck deep in her own zone, she executed a remarkable coast-to-coast dash, ultimately scoring on her backhand while falling to the ice. This incredible effort sent the game into overtime, marking the Lions’ third overtime contest this season.
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The overtime period was a nail-biter, with both goaltenders putting on a show. A combined nine saves were made, with four coming from Secreto. The best chance for Lindenwood came shortly after the overtime period began when Blichova was set up for a shot but was denied by the alert Bemidji goaltender.
As the teams remained locked in a stalemate after the extra five minutes, a shootout was required to determine the victor. In this crucial tiebreaker, Molly Henderson opened the shootout with a goal, while Secreto made back-to-back saves to solidify the Lions’ hopes. Although Blichova was unable to convert her attempt, Pazmandi stepped up and clinched the victory with a decisive shootout goal, marking Lindenwood’s first shootout win of the season.
With this victory, the Lions improved their record to 5-13-2 for the season. The team will soon face Mercyhurst University for the final series of the first half of the season, with the puck set to drop on Friday at 4 p.m. CT.
