Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Brandon Peplinski (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) found the back of the net in the 88th minute and the Royals defeated the visiting St. Thomas Tommies for the first time in a decade with a 2-1 win today at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex.

The Royals and Tommies played to a scoreless tie through the first half, with Bethel outshooting St. Thomas 6-4. Bethel also held an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks in the first 45 minutes, but then Tommy Jungwirth put St. Thomas out in front 1-0 with a goal, assisted by James Hart less than four minutes into the new half. Refusing to roll over and die, Bethel fought back, and at 77:50, Brian Holm (Fr., Champlin, Minn.) knotted the game up at 1-1 with his second goal of the season, assisted by Kirk Darling (Jr., Portage, Mich.).

Bethel has been involved in many close games over the past couple of years, taking a nationally ranked Gustavus team to overtime in 2007 before falling, and last year saw the Royals lose more than one conference game in heartbreaking fashion. But things have changed. Along with a new mix of players is a renewed sense of optimism and a winning attitude. If ever that was evident, it was today.

With the clock winding down and the inevitability of overtime looming nearer, Peplinski gave the Homecoming crowd something to cheer about when he buried a pass from Andreas Scott (Jr., Cedar, Minn.) into the net. The defense held tight for the next minute and a half, and the Royals won their second conference game of the season, something that hasn't happened since 2006 when the team only won two conference games.

Nick Kantor (Sr., Buffalo, Minn.) made seven saves in front of the net for Bethel, and the team has now won more games than it did all last season.

Today's game was a very physical match, as St. Thomas held the advantage in fouls by a 17-11 margin, including a 12-5 spread in the second half alone. Seven yellow cards were issued, but it was Bethel's hustle, aggressiveness, and determination to win that was the difference in the game.

Bethel is now 6-2-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the MIAC, while St. Thomas falls to 4-4-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The Royals take to the road for their next game, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29, in Moorhead, Minn., when Bethel takes on Concordia.