Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Drought over. Quickly. The Bethel University Royals found the back of the net not once, not twice, but three times, downing the Hamline University Pipers 3-0, and gaining their first conference victory of the year.

After being shut down for 90 minutes and two overtimes at Saint Mary's, the Bethel offense found their stride once again as Leah Hardie (So., Ankeny, Iowa) found the back of the net in the 13th minute, with the assist going to Breanna Posey (Sr., Champlin, Minn.). The goal was Hardie's seventh of the year in seven contests. The Royals struck again in the 32nd minute, on a corner kick, as Anne Fazio (Fr., Holland, Mich.) put away the Carolyn Kishaba cross, giving her five goals for the season. The final goal was scored when Lydia Bergeson (Fr., Mauston, Wis.) took a cross from Hardie, and realizing it was too low for a header but also too high for a volley, used her stomach to rocket the ball past the Piper goaltender. Bergeson now has a team-leading 20 points, nine goals and two assists, to start her Bethel career.

"The entire team has been very welcoming," said Bergeson, "everyone is there for you on a personal level and its genuine."

Becoming overshadowed by the number one offense in the nation, at eight goals per game as of Sunday, the defense has quietly, albeit effectively, stifled every opponent it has faced. The Royals have only allowed 14 shots on goal all season and Bethel goalies have gobbled up every one. Today's match gave the Royals their seventh consecutive shut-out.

"Defenders Alicia Sedlock (Jr., Cambridge, Minn.) and Kelci Schedler (Sr., Fond du Lac, Wis.) are playing awesome," said Assistant Head Coach Rachael Chavez, "they are confident and composed."

The combination of suffocating defense and impeccable scoring has the Royals primed for a terrific season.

"We all know we have a part to play," said Bergeson, "whether its playing 90 minutes or just a few."

After the victory, Bethel is 6-0-1 (1-0-1) and the Pipers fall to 2-5 (0-2) on the season. The Royals have the weekend off, but on Tuesday, the women will be traveling to Menomonie, Wis., to take on the University of Wisconsin-Stout, starting at 7 p.m.