Box Score

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - There appears to be a bit of a pattern to the results of Bethel's conference games. At first, it was as though the season would be feast or famine as the Royals were swept by Augsburg, only to go on to sweep Saint John's. Since then, it's been more of a teeter-totter ride with three series splits. If that pattern holds true, tomorrow night SHOULD mean a win for Bethel. But if you're using some deductive reasoning, you'll come to figure out that the result of tonight's game against the St. Olaf Oles did not end in favor of the Royals.

St. Olaf scored three unanswered goals in the third period - two in the last two minutes - to defeat Bethel 4-1 in an otherwise tight conference game.

The Oles scored a quick goal at 3:49 into the game to go up 1-0, which is where the score would stay for the next 37 minutes of game time. Less than a minute into the third period, Mason Swenson (Fr. Eagan, Minn.) scored his third goal of the season with the help of Christian Fogerty (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) and Jake Kogler (Fr., Forest Lake, Minn.) to even the score at one apiece.

The two teams continued to play a very clean defensive battle with very few penalites. In fact, there were just four penalites all game; three for the Oles and just one for the Royals. But at 10:10 into the third period, Andy Benson of St. Olaf scored what proved to be the game-winning goal. Nick Stalock scored two goals in the span of just 12 seconds to seal the victory for the Oles in the 18th minute.

Bethel's loss drops them to 10-11-1 overall and 6-7 in the MIAC. At the moment, the Royals are clinging to the fifth and final playoff spot with just three games left to play. The first place and #15 nationall ranked Oles improve to 9-1-1 in the conference and 13-6-1 overall. The two teams are scheduled to face off against each other again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Bethel University Arena for the conclusion of the regular season series.