Senior Dani Cameranesi scored two goals in the third period to lead the No. 2 Gophers to a 3-1 victory over host Bemidji State on Friday afternoon at the Sanford Center in the WCHA opener for both teams.

Cameranesi's second goal, at 10 minutes, 39 seconds of the final period, broke a tie. It was her fourth goal of the season. Caitlin Reilly made it a 3-1 Gophers lead later.

"In the second period [we] really started to carry the play," Gophers coach Brad Frost said. "[We] had plenty of chances. Their goaltender made a lot of great saves, and some timely plays by their defensemen. So we were really proud of our team after two periods and told them they had to find a way. And we were able to do that."

Minnesota (3-0) outshot the Beavers 30-17, but it was a scoreless game through two periods.

Bemidji State (2-1) got the game's first goal when Lauren Miller scored six minutes into the third with Minnesota two players short.

Cameranesi tied it just 2:05 later. Linemate Kelly Pannek had assists on both of Cameranesi's goals.

Sidney Peters stopped 16 shots for the Gophers, Brittni Mowat 27 for the Beavers.

This was the third consecutive close game between these teams in Bemidji. Last January, the Gophers swept the Beavers in two 2-1 games, and the second went into overtime.

"It was a tough, hard-fought WCHA win over Bemidji like it always is," Frost said.