Box Score
BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel Royals came from behind tonight to extend their unbeaten streak to six games with a 2-1 win over the visiting Saint Mary's Cardinals.
Saint Mary's struck first when Dana Kreuser scored at the 11:02 mark of the first period with the help of Stevie Fiek. The goal snapped three-time All-MIAC goaltender
Beth Spurrier's (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) scoreless minutes streak at 95:39. However, Spurrier merely started a new streak by shutting out the Cardinals for the remaining 48:58 of the game.
The two teams remained scoreless throughout the remainder of the first period and well into the second period. That all changed, though, with just over five minutes left to play in the middle period. The Royals tied the game when
Anna Carlson (Fr., Roseville, Minn.) and
Rachael Geng (Fr., So. St. Paul, Minn.) helped clear the Bethel zone and connected with
Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) who was waiting down at the Cardinal blue line and proceeded to put the puck in the net for her 10th goal of the season. The goal also marked Murphy-Aultman's 99th of her illustrious career, leaving her one shy of becoming Bethel's first ever 100-point scorer.
Bethel took the lead for good 20 minutes of game time later when
Miriam Paas (Sr., Toronto, Canada - pictured right) scored her first goal of the season with the help of
Jenna Bullock (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.). The puck somehow made it through a cluster of players right in front of the Cardinal net, but nonetheless, it was the game-winner, giving Bethel a 7-2-2 record in MIAC play and an 8-6-3 record overall.
The Cardinals came out guns ablazing by outshooting the Royals 15-6 in the first period. However, they managed just nine shots on goal the remainder of the game as Bethel outshot Saint Mary's by nearly a 2:1 ratio at 42-24. Bethel's defense staved off each of Saint Mary's four power plays, and to the Cardinals credit, they managed to kill off all five of their penalties, including a five-minute major for elbowing, which began late in the second period and extended into the third period.
Saint Mary's drops to 5-10-1 overall on their season, and 4-6-1 in the MIAC. The two teams are scheduled to face off against each other again tomorrow afternoon beginning at 4 p.m. down in Winona, Minn.