Box Score

MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Royals have been working hard, and it's been paying off for them. Today, they tied the Concordia Cobbers 2-2 on the road, which means that in their past four conference games, they have faced two of the top three teams, including the #1 team in the nation, and have come away with a 1-1-2 record, good for four points in the MIAC standings.

Today's game was a literal see-saw battle, starting with Concordia's power play goal less than a minute into the game. The Royals were skating a 3-5 disadvantage on account of two players being in the penalty box within that first minute. Undaunted, Kassy Sullivan (So., Roseville, Minn.) pulled Bethel even at 1-1 at 14:43 into the first period with her fifth goal of the season, assisted by former high school teammate Anna Carlson (Fr., Roseville, Minn.).

After a scoreless second period, Concordia went out in front again by way of a power play goal five minutes into the third period. But Bethel showed that they, too, can score power play goals as Paige Lemieux (Fr., Fargo, N.D.) scored her first collegiate goal with the help of Olivia Paulseth (Fr., Duluth, Minn.) with less than five minutes to play. With the score knotted at two apiece, the two teams headed to overtime. For Bethel it was their sixth overtime game overall and third in conference play, which leads the MIAC on both fronts.

For the third overtime appearance in a row, the Royals played to a draw with the opposition, giving them their third tie of the season.  Beth Spurrier (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) recorded 41 saves on the afternoon, and the Royals, despite being outshot in the first two periods, came back to fire a flurry of shots on Cobber goaltender Julie York in the third period. Bethel had 19 of their 27 shots on goal in the final 25 minutes of the game.

The tie puts Bethel at 5-6-3 overall and 4-2-2 in the MIAC, while Concordia is now 8-5-2 overall and 5-2-1 in the conference. The Royals are scheduled to hit the ice again against Hamline next Friday night beginning at 7:15 p.m. at Drake Arena in St. Paul, Minn.