Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel Royals hosted the UW-Superior Yellowjackets tonight at Bethel University Arena, but were unable to skate past the #2 ranked team in the nation, according to the latest USCHO.com poll, and were handed a 5-2 loss.

It took almost the entire first period for either team to break a scoreless tie, but Bethel got on the scoreboard first when Mason Swenson (Fr., Eagan, Minn.) and Chris Fiala (Fr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) connected with Kyle Dynan (Jr., Orono, Minn.) for a power play goal with just under one and a half minutes remaining in the period.

However, the Royals' 1-0 lead would be short-lived, and they would be unable to get it back as Seth Reda of the Yellowjackets scored just 36 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1 with the help of Ryan Kuntz and Keven Huck.

In the second period, UW-Superior would go on to take and add to their lead when Reda scored his second goal of the game at the 8:33 mark of the second period, capitalizing on a power play opportunity. Huck assisted once again, as well as Talon Berlando. Less than six minutes later, Chris Berry scored to push the Yellowjackets lead to 3-1. Eric Bausano and Josh Seifert earned assists on the goal at the 14:04 mark.

Tyler Fletcher of the Yellowjackets struck 4:10 into the third period, unassited, to make the score 4-1. Bethel finally answered when Eric Adams (Sr., Litchfield, Minn.) scored his fifth goal of the season, assisted by John Kovacs (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) and Swenson.

Unfortunately, that would be all Bethel would get on the evening. All-MIAC goalie Aaron Damjanovich (Jr., Remer, Minn.) came off the ice with a minute and a half left to play, but  the Royals were unable to capitalize on the extra man advantage, and were made to pay for lack of a netminder as Fletcher went on to score an empty net goal with 55 seconds remaining. Damjanovich recorded 31 saves on the night, including 16 in the third period alone.

Tonight's also marks the end of captain Kent Bostrom's (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) eight-game scoring streak.

The loss puts Bethel at 5-3-1 overall heading into Thanksgiving, while UW-Superior improves to 10-1 overall. The Royals are scheduled to return to the ice on December 5, when they host Gustavus Adolphus beginning at 7 p.m.