The West Region No. 1-seeded Minot State women’s hockey team watched on in agony Sunday afternoon as the West Region No. 2-seeded Assiniboine Community College Cougars stormed the ice in a frenzy.

The Beavers had seen this before, like a nightmare repeated.

For a second straight season, MSU was defeated in the ACHA Division II women’s national championship game. Assiniboine collected the prestigious trophy this season at the Beavers’ expense with a narrow 1-0 victory at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas.

“I want to say disappointment,” MSU head coach Ryan Miner said was running through his mind after the loss. “But, you know what, we had a heck of a season and the girls can hold their heads high. Obviously, this wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but we were up against a good team and they worked hard.”

Alex Eisen/MDN The puck squirts free as Minot State and Assiniboine players get tangled up during the third period of the ACHA Division II women's national championship game in Frisco, Texas.

The Beavers (28-2-0) came out slow and got a dose of their own medicine. After locking opponents up deep in their defensive zone for most of the national tournament, MSU found itself trapped and pinned in.

MSU junior goaltender Shelby Tornato bailed the Beavers out on multiple occasions to keep the contest scoreless.

The Cougars (23-6-1) weren’t backing down, even though all six of their losses this season had come against MSU.

“We didn’t get enough shots or opportunities early on,” Miner said. “And that set us back.”

MSU sophomore captain Sami Jo Henry nearly buried the first goal off an Assiniboine turnover. As she went flying past the net, the puck snuck behind Cougars goaltender Marley Quesnel.

Alex Eisen/MDN Assiniboine's Simone Turner-Cummer (14) clears the puck from the crease Sunday in the national championship game. Turner-Cummer was named the Tournament MVP and scored the championship-winning goal in the first period.

Quesnel had no clue where the puck went, as it sat in the crease right behind her. Cougars forward Simone Turner-Cummer came swooping in and cleared the puck away.

“We didn’t get the bounces or the calls today,” MSU’s lone senior Vanessa Grimstad said. “That’s the game of hockey. Sometimes the better hockey team doesn’t win. These sort of things happen in tournaments. This is a team we had faced six times this year and last time we played them, we beat them by six or seven goals [seven, a 9-2 win on Feb. 24]. But, congratulations to them.”

With 4:51 left in the first period, Turner-Cummer netted her team-leading sixth goal of the tournament on the second power play of the game. It turned out to be the championship-winning goal.

Grimstad was in the penalty box at the time for body checking. MSU struggled to stay out of the box with six minor penalties in the game, while Assiniboine was called for two minor penalties.

Fatigue played a role in that, as getting up and down the ice appeared to be a constant struggle for the Beavers.

Alex Eisen/MDN Assiniboine celebrates winning the ACHA Division II women's national title with MSU's Vanessa Grimstad (22) hunched over in agony Sunday at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas.

“Five games in five days isn’t easy,” Grimstad said. “You get tired out, and sometimes you don’t make the right decisions… But, I feel like we still battled hard.”

To reach the national title game, both MSU and Assiniboine won four games in four days.

“We do everything we can to make sure they are prepared,” Miner said. “Obviously, the fifth day got to us and there is nothing we can do now.”

The Beavers didn’t help themselves out late in the game either with two penalties in the final four minutes. They simply ran out of time to effectively pull the goalie for a final push.

MSU outshot Assiniboine, 8-2, in the second period and finished the game with an 18-14 advantage.

In the end, Turner-Cummer’s goal held up. She was named the Tournament MVP having also scored both of the Cougars’ goals in a 2-1 semifinal win over Lakehead University.

Grimstad led the national tournament with 17 total points (seven goals and 10 assists) in just five games.

MSU’s Mackenzie Balogh was right behind her with 12 points off a tournament-high nine goals. And teammate Beth-Ann Goudy finished tied for third in points with six goals and two assists.

“I’m proud of my girls,” Grimstad said. “They didn’t quit, and we played Beaver hockey all tournament.”

Minot State moves up to the women’s ACHA Division I tier next season. Despite another championship defeat, the Beavers still feel ready to make the jump.

“Just look at the success we had in the regular season, we went undefeated against Division I teams,” Miner said. “Although we didn’t get the outcome we wanted today, I still feel we are prepared.”

As one chapter closes, a new one begins.

“We still went out with a bang, and I’m proud to have played my last season with these ladies,” Grimstad said. “I was a little unsure at the beginning of the year (about the team going to Division I), but as we went on we literally had teams cancel on us because we were too good. Then, you definitely know you have to make the jump.

“The fact that we didn’t win (the national title) doesn’t mean we aren’t ready… A lot of new girls are coming in, and they are going to fill my shoes and more. They are going to do just fine next year.”

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.