Box Score

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. - As a testament to just how far the Bethel University women's hockey program has come, the Royals shut out St. Thomas for the second time in a row, making it just their second win against the Tommies in the team's 10-year history. St. Thomas is currently ranked #6 nationally in the latest USCHO.com poll and is in second place in the MIAC standings.

Tonight's 1-0 win assures Bethel that they will meet St. Thomas in the first round of the MIAC playoffs as the two teams will be the #2 and #3 seeds. Bethel's all-time leading scorer, Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), had the only goal of the game, assisted by Rachael Geng (Fr., So. St. Paul, Minn.) and Sandra Felten (Sr., Cashton, Wis.).

Three-time All-MIAC goaltender Beth Spurrier (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) earned her 14th career shutout, which is second among active MIAC goalies only to St. Thomas goalie Lauren Bradle, who was not able to start for the Tommies tonight. Spurrier stopped each of the 38 shots that came her way in the victory.

The win gives Bethel an overall record of 11-9-3, which assures them their first winning record since the 2005-06 season. At 10-5-2 in the MIAC, the team is also guaranteed their best conference winning percentage ever. St. Thomas falls to 17-4-3 overall and 14-2-1 in the conference. The two teams are scheduled to close out the regular season against each other tomorrow afternoon beginning at 2 p.m. at Bethel University Arena in Blaine, Minn.