Box Score
BLAINE, Minn. - When the Bethel Royals and St. Olaf Oles scored three goals in the span of just over seven minutes in the first period, it looked like tonight's game between the two teams would be a wild, high-scoring affair. However, it was not to be.
Olivia Paulseth's (Fr., Duluth, Minn.) goal at 15:45 into the first period proved to be the game-winner, as the Royals skated to a 2-1 win over their visitors.
Bethel went on top first when
Paige Lemieux (Fr., Fargo, N.D.) scored her third goal of the season with the help of
Sandra Felten (Sr., Cashton, Wis.) and
Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) at the 8:22 mark of the first period. For Murphy-Aultman, the assist was the 10th of the season for her, but even more importantly, it represented the 100th point in her career at Bethel, making her the first ever to accomplish the feat in the 10 year history of the program.
St. Olaf answered approximately five minutes later to knot the score at 1-1 when Anna Messerly and Kim McClintick found Katie Iraci to put the puck in the net. However, the tie was short-lived as Paulseth scored her first game-winning goal of her career and sixth goal of the season.
Kelsea Martalock (So., Tomah, Wis.) and Lemieux were credited with the assists, giving Lemieux her first two-point game.
The next 44:15 of game time remained scoreless, despite constant pressure by the Royals in the Ole zone. Defensively, perhaps the best way to describe Bethel's brand of defense is "pesky," if not aggressive. Royal defenders flustered and frustrated St. Olaf's scoring attack by intercepting passes and just out-hustling the opponent, creating scoring opportunities even while shorthanded.
Bethel fired 29 shots on goal, compared to 23 for St. Olaf. Royal goaltender
Beth Spurrier (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) saved 22 of those shots for her ninth win of the season.
The win helps Bethel improve to 9-7-3 overall and 8-3-2 in the MIAC, while St. Olaf falls to 6-10-4 overall and 5-6-2 in conference play. The two teams are scheduled to face off against each other tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in Northfield to close out the regular season series.
