Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Brittany Griffore (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) netted two goals, but they would not be enough as the Bethel Royals fell 4-2 against the College of Saint Benedict Blazers.

The Blazers struck first at the 22:50 mark when a dropped save led to a rebound goal for Alison Tourville, the assist going to Heather Beshears. Just two minutes later, St. Ben's scored again, the unassisted goal going to Beshears. The Royals would get multiple chances before half, but could not take advantage and went into halftime down 2-0.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Blazers found the net once again for what would be the winning goal, putting them up 3-0, scored by Tourville and assisted by Olivia Wee. The Royals got their way onto the board in the 61st minute on a beautiful header pass from Lydia Bergeson (Fr., Mauston, Wis.) to Griffore, who put her shot in the lower left corner of the net from just inside the 18-yard box. However, in the 72nd minute, another defensive letdown led to another Blazer goal, scored by Beshears, putting them ahead 4-1. The Royals would not quit, getting another goal from Griffore inside the box, on a cross from Bergeson in the 79th minute, assists going to Molly Hazen (Fr., Chaska, Minn.) and Molly Miller (Fr., Denver, Colo.). Griffore's two goals give her eleven on the season and a team-leading 28 points. The Bethel attack put a flurry of shots on or over the net in the waning minutes, but could not come up with a goal, the final score remaining 4-2.

The shots were 12 to eight in favor of the Royals, but all eight of the Blazers' shots were put on goal, while six of Bethel's were put on net. Griffore and Carolyn Kishaba (So., Eau Claire, Wis.) led the Royals with two shots on goal apiece and Beshears led Saint Benedict's with five shots on the keeper.

"They capitalized on our mistakes today," said Head Coach PepeJon Chavez, "individual mistakes affected the outcome."

Despite the lapses, Chavez saw the team working hard till the end. "The girls showed some weaknesses, but they also showed some strengths," he said, "We played stronger at the end than the beginning, better than the middle and we have to be playing our best at the end."

"By falling on their faces," Chavez said, "by giving all they have and leaving the field beat-tired, they reflected the representation of Christ that is the base of our program."

After the loss, Bethel drops to 9-5-1 (2-5-1) and the Blazers improve to 8-5-1 (5-3) on the year. The Royals have a week off before they play again, traveling to Gustavus Adolphus College next Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.