Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - The Royals will be making their second playoff appearance in team history, both within the last three years, as they defeated the visiting Wildcats from St. Catherine by a score of 4-2.  Both the Royals and Wildcats played with a sense of urgency knowing the winner would advance, while the other would not.

Bethel struck first when Miriam Paas (Jr., Ontario, Canada) scored her second goal of the season with the help of Hannah Carlson (Sr., Cooper Center Alaska).  However, St. Catherine answered just 22 seconds later to make it a 1-1 game.

The Royals regained the lead 14:36 into the second period when Bethel's all-time leading point scorer Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) scored her 10th goal of the season, assisted by Julien Olson (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.). 

Earlier in the second period, tenacious defense by the Royals allowed them to kill off two penalties, as they skated with just three on the ice for :50 of game time, and then an additional two minutes.  Bethel's aggressive play almost resulted in a shorthanded goal as well.

Bethel added to their lead less than a minute into the third period when conference leading goal scorer Sandra Felten (Jr., Cashton, Wis.) scored her 19th goal of the season by going coast to coast, assisted by Kassy Sullivan (Fr., Roseville, Minn.).  Felten's goal made her Bethel's single season goal scoring leader, and also tied her for the national lead in game-winning goals with seven.  In addition, she has now scored at least one goal in each of her last nine games, which is also a new Bethel record.

The Royals struck once more when Murphy-Aultman scored a power play goal 6:33 into the final period with the help of Olson.  The goal was her second of the night, and 11th of the season.

St. Catherine managed to cut Bethel's lead in half with just under four minutes remaining when Michaela Michaelson scored her team leading 12th goal of the season, assisted by Chelsea Crowell.  The Wildcats then pulled their goalie for the last three minutes but were unable to score with a skater advantage.  Two-time All-MIAC goalie Beth Spurrier (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) recorded 30 saves on the night, including several deflections and shots right in front of the net.

Tonight's game marked the final regular season home game for seniors Carlson and Olson, as well as  Sarah Worch (Sr., Boynton Beach, Fla.), and captain Amy Beitzel (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.).

The Royals will go into the playoffs with a full head of steam as they have won or tied five of their last six games.  They finish the regular season at 11-11-2 overall and 8-9-1 in the MIAC.  St. Catherine falls to 9-13-3 overall and 6-10-2 in conference play.  Bethel will play Hamline in the first round of the playoffs next week at a site, date and time to be determined, pending the outcome of Hamline's series with Saint Benedict.