Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS - In Bethel's three non-conference and one exhibition game so far, they scored a combined seven goals. Tonight, the dam finally broke and the opposition's defense could hold the Royals no longer, as Bethel's offense exploded for seven goals in a 7-1 win over Augsburg in the conference opener.

The Auggies did their best to contain the flood, holding Bethel scoreless for almost 17 minutes in the first period. However, Sandra Felten (Sr., Cashton, Wis.) found the crack in the wall and scored her first goal of the season with the help of Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) and Anna Carlson (Fr., Roseville, Minn.).

Within three minutes Bethel had a 3-0 lead. Felten proceeded to score a shorthanded goal less than a minute after her first one, this time assisted by Rachael Geng (Fr., So. St. Paul, Minn.), and with one second remaining in the period, Allison Papko (So., Winnipeg, Manitoba) scored her first goal of the season on a power play, assisted by Felten and Carlson.

The score remained the same until 14:55 into the second period. That's when Murphy-Aultman scored two goals in the span of 21 seconds - her third and fourth of the season - with Felten getting an assist on the second goal. Far from being done, Kassy Sullivan (So., Roseville, Minn.) scored her first goal of the season with the help of Carlson with less than a minute remaining in the period.

Bethel entered the third period with a 6-0 lead, determined to get their first points in the conference standings. Just 2:31 into the final period, Murphy-Aultman and Papko connected with Felten, allowing her to cap off a great performance by netting her third goal of the night for the fourth hat trick of her career, and her second in as many years against Augsburg. Felten's three goals and five points is a repeat of her performance last November 30 against the Auggies when the Royals won 6-2.

Three-time All-MIAC goalie Beth Spurrier (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) nearly earned her 12th career shutout,  but the Auggies managed to slip the puck past her  at the 12:13 mark of the third period. Whitney Pratt got the goal, while Whitney Restemay earned the assist equaling Augsburg's first points of the 2008-09 season.

The game marked the third time Murphy-Aultman has scored at least four points in one game, while Carlson's three points is the best performance by a freshman since former high school teammate Sullivan had a goal and two assists against St. Olaf last season.

Bethel is now 1-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference with the win, while Augsburg remains winless at 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the MIAC with the loss. The two teams are scheduled to face off against each other again tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Bethel University Arena in the Schwan's Super Rink complex.