FREMONT, Neb. – The Beavers' run at the WMCH Tournament came to an end in the semifinals on Friday, but there's still plenty of hockey left for Minot State.

Falling to the No. 1-ranked Liberty Flames 5-1, the 4^th-ranked Beavers came up short of the WMCH title game, but will get two more contests to prepare for the big goal, when Minot State heads to the ACHA National Tournament next month.

Friday, the Beavers (16-7-7 overall) battled hard, but a goal late in the first period gave the Flames (28-0-1) an early 1-0 lead that they stretched to 3-0 before Minot State got on the scoreboard.

Kinley Brassard's unassisted goal with 1 minute, 50 seconds left until the second intermission closed the gap a bit and gave the Beavers a chance, but Liberty put the game away with a pair of goals midway through the final period.

Jillian Ackerman finished with 31 saves in goal for Minot State, which is back in action for a pair of games at Jamestown on Friday and Saturday, the Beavers' final two games prior to nationals, which begins on March 18 in St. Louis, Missouri.