Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel Royals played their final game of the 2008 calendar year tonight, but were unable to emerge victorious as the visiting UW-Eau Claire Blugolds skated to a 3-1 win.

Tonight, barely four minutes after falling behind 1-0 in the first period, Jake Kogler (Fr., Forest Lake, Minn.) scored with the help of Christian Ostigaard (Jr., Byers, Colo.) and Mason Swenson (Fr., Eagan, Minn.) to even the game at one apiece.

Unfortunately, the Blugolds tacked on unanswered goals in the second and third periods to come away with the win.

As their 6-6-1 overall record and 3-3 conference record might indicate, it's been a season of ups and downs. The Royals have seen some strong play from veterans like captain Kent Bostrom (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.), who was held scoreless tonight and remains at 99 points, and assistant captain Brad Peterson (Sr., Bloomington, Minn.), as well as freshmen like Chris Fiala (Vadnais Heights, Minn.). However, with a majority of their MIAC schedule remaining, the Royals are still looking for the consistency that will carry them into their fifth consecutive MIAC playoff berth.

The Royals will have the next couple of weeks off from competition before they are scheduled to travel to both Switzerland and Italy between December 26 and January 3, to take on local competition in those countries. Upon their return to the United States, they are scheduled to take on conference opponent St. Olaf in a non-conference game on January 7, at Bethel University Arena beginning at 7 p.m.