Box Score

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Bethel University's Anna Carlson (Fr., Roseville, Minn.) entered tonight's game against the St. Olaf Oles as the top scoring defender in the conference, as well as one of the top scoring freshmen this season despite not having a single goal to her name. That all changed tonight as she scored Bethel's final two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to give the Royals a crucial 3-2 victory on the road to clinch their third trip to the conference playoffs in the last four seasons.

Carlson had a hand in each of Bethel's three goals, starting with an assist on Sandra Felten's (Sr., Cashton, Wis.) power play goal at 3:40 into the second period. One night after becoming Bethel's first ever 100 point scorer, Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) continued to build upon that total with an assist on Felten's goal as well.

Bethel's 1-0 lead lasted for about four minutes until Kim McClintick of St. Olaf tied the score up at one apiece with a power play goal of her own, her 12th goal of the season.

But like a restless child, the score did not sit still for long.

Somewhat akin to always being the bridesmaid, but never the bride, Carlson finally scored her first goal of the season at 10:01 into the second period, after assisting on 17 other goals up until that point. Kassy Sullivan (So., Roseville, Minn.) and Allison Papko (So., Winnipeg, Manitoba) were credited with assists on the goal.

However, the see-saw battle wasn't over. Less than three minutes after the Royals had pulled ahead, the Oles came back to tie the game when Kelly Biddle scored. The game would remain 2-2 for what was left of the second period, as well as the duration of the third period, bringing on overtime.

As far as overtime is concerned, no two teams in the MIAC have more games that have extended past regulation than St. Olaf (6) and Bethel (7). In the first part of the season, overtime was not kind to the Royals as they lost their first three contests, only to come back and notch two ties against two nationally ranked opponents, as well as another tie against Concordia. Tonight's win marked the first time all season Bethel won an overtime game, perhaps signaling a turning of the tide.

Once again, it was Carlson's named that was announced as the goal scorer, this time at 1:37 into the overtime period making it her second goal of the game, and the season. Sullivan and Rachael Geng (Fr., So. St. Paul, Minn.) fed Carlson the puck for the assists.

The Royals fired 35 shots on goal throughout the game, compared to 25 by the Oles, and they needed just one in the overtime period to get the job done. Defensively, Beth Spurrier (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) stopped 23 of those shots that came her way for her 10th win of the season.

Bethel's win, their seventh in their last nine games, gives them a 10-7-3 record overall and a 9-3-2 conference record, good for third place in the conference standings. St. Olaf falls to 6-11-4 overall and 5-7-2 in the MIAC with the loss. The Royals are scheduled to return home to take on St. Catherine at 7 p.m. next Friday night for their next game.