Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - Bethel faced a formidable foe in UW-River Falls in their first game after a month long break, and looked to begin 2008 on a winning note.  However, the Falcons had other plans, as they handed the Royals a 7-0 loss.

The Royals skated with the Falcons, a top-15 nationally ranked team, for the first two periods of their game, despite being without three key players including All-MIAC forward Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.). 

Two-time All-MIAC goalie Beth Spurrier (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) was able to stop 27 UW-River Falls shots during the first 40 minutes, but when the Falcons' Cassie LeBlanc scored 2:11 into the third period, it signaled the beginning of a landslide that the Royals were unable to escape.

UW-River Falls went on to score six more goals in the period, including five in the span of just over five minutes.  The last time any team had scored seven goals in one period against the Royals was when Gustavus did it on February 3, 2001.

Bethel's best chance to score was when Sandra Felten (Jr., Cashton, Wis.) was granted a penalty shot after a roughing penalty called against the Falcons.  Felten's shot missed to the right and the Royals remained scoreless on the afternoon.

Bethel drops to 4-5-1 overall while UW-River Falls improves to 7-4-0.  The Royals travel to Mequon, Wis., for their next game as they take on Concordia-Wisconsin next Friday at 7 p.m.