Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel Royals entered tonight's game knowing that they would need to leave everything out on the ice and capture three points in the standings in their weekend series with the St. Thomas Tommies in order to go to the conference playoffs for the fifth year in a row. The Royals most certainly gave it their all and had a few scoring opportunities late in the game, but even so, when the final buzzer went off, Bethel remained on the short end of a 4-3 decision.

St. Thomas scored first just under six minutes into the game. Parker Burgess scored his 10th goal of the season, assisted by Rob Johnson and Alex Arnason. Bethel answered at 12:03 when John Kovacs (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.), one of five Bethel seniors playing in their last regular season home game tonight, lit the lamp with the help of Chris Fiala (Fr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) and Kent Bostrom (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.).

In the second period, Bethel took a 2-1 lead at the 6:30 mark when Mason Swenson (Fr., Eagan, Minn.) scored, aided by Brad Peterson (Sr., Bloomington, Minn.). It would prove to be the Royals' only lead of the night because five and a half minutes later, St. Thomas score their first of three unanswered goals, including a shorthanded goal with 2:30 remaining in the period.

Down, but not out, Bostrom took full advantage of a 5-on-3 situation and scored his 10th goal of the season to bring the Royals within one goal of a tie less than three minutes into the final period. Fiala and Kovacs were credited with the assists for their second points of the game.

The game took an interesting turn with just 1:40 remaining when St. Thomas was penalized, giving the Royals a power play opportunity. The Tommies then incurred another penalty with 1:08 remaining, giving Bethel a two skater advantage. Goaltender Aaron Damjanovich (Jr., Remer, Minn.) then left his post in front of the net to give Bethel a 6-on-3 advantage. Bethel's near misses in front of the St. Thomas net elicited some "Oh!" responses from the large crowd on hand, and the clock ran out before the Royals could muster another shot on goal.

The loss drops Bethel to 11-12-1 overall and 7-8 in the MIAC, while St. Thomas clinches a playoff spot at 9-4-2 in the conference and 12-9-3 overall. The two teams are scheduled to finish out the regular season tomorrow night at St. Thomas Arena in Mendota Heights, Minn., beginning at 7 p.m.