LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Minot State women's hockey team's first shot at a road upset came up short Thursday night.

The third-ranked Beavers (15-7-1 overall) got a power-play goal from Sydney Spicer midway through the second period, cutting the host Flames lead in half, but two third-period goals for top-ranked Liberty lifted them to a 4-1 win over Minot State.

The two teams play again in Virginia on Friday night in the second of a three-game series.

The Flames (19-1-0) took a 1-0 lead in the first period and stretched the lead to 2-0 early in the second period before Spicer scored.

The Beavers comeback came up short, though, as the host Flames netted two goals in the third to ice the win.

Complete game stats were not yet available.