Box Score
BLAINE, Minn. - Until today's game against the Plymouth State University Panthers, the Royals have been like many Minnesotans driving in a snow storm. They've been skating as fast and have been playing as aggressive as the conditions have dictated and allowed, and with two ties and two very close and low-scoring games against nationally ranked opponents included, they need to feel good about where they're at, which is not in the MIAC ditch waiting for a tow truck. Today, with snowy, windy, and slippery conditions outside, the Royals put their offense into four-wheel drive and soundly defeated the visiting Panthers 6-1.
Bethel began its relentless attack with a power play goal just under nine minutes into the game when
Sandra Felten (Sr., Cashton, Wis.) scored her fourth goal of the season with the help of
Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) and
Anna Carlson (Fr., Roseville, Minn.). Less than four minutes later, Felten, passing from behind the net, found a patiently waiting Murphy-Aultman who lit the lamp and put Bethel up 2-0, which is where the score would stay throughout the rest of the period and well into the second period.
Allison Papko (So., Winnepeg, Manitoba) became the next Royal to join the scoring blitz when she added her third goal of the season, assited by Kelea Martalock (So., Tomah, Wis.) at the 14:39 mark of the middle period.
With the score 3-0 at the beginning of the third period, it didn't take long for Bethel to put the game completely out of reach. The Royals scored two goals in the span of just 13 seconds, then tacked on a third a little more than five minutes later. The barrage began 1:04 into the period when Murphy-Aultman scored her second goal of the game, this time assisted by
Rachael Geng (Fr., So. St. Paul, Minn.). At 1:17,
Kassy Sullivan (So., Roseville, Minn.) joined the action with the help of Murphy-Aultman. Finally, at 6:38 into the final period,
Olivia Paulseth (Fr., Duluth, Minn.) put the biscuit in the basket with the help of Carlson and none other than Murphy-Aultman as well. Murphy-Aultman's five points ties the second best single game performance by a Royal.
Three-time All-MIAC goalie
Beth Spurrier (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) was solid as usual in front of the net, but her shutout bid was ruined with 6:45 remaining in the game when Amanda Kreamer scored for the Panthers.
The Royals capitalized on one of their five power play opportunities, and before Kreamer scored her goal on a power play, the Royals maintained nearly complete puck control, even without the benefit of being at full strength. Bethel outshot Plymouth State 62-18 during the game, constantly putting Panther goalie Lindsay DeLorie to the test. The shots on goal total matches a team record set in the 1999-00 season against Hamline.
The Royals improve to 4-6-2 overall, while the Panthers fall to 0-10 on their season. Bethel is scheduled to head northwest for their next games, a weekend series up in Moorhead to take on Concordia, beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
