Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - It's getting down to crunch time in the MIAC, and the Royals are doing everything they can to make their fifth conference playoff appearance in six seasons. Tonight, they played a solid game, beginning to end, and defeated the St. Olaf Oles 5-3.

St. Olaf got the upper hand within in the first two minutes of game time, but the Royals came charging back with three unanswered goals. Zach McGough (So., Roseville, Minn.) tied the game at one apiece at the 4:27 mark of the first period with the help of Tom Menozzi (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Chris Fiala (So., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) Fiala also got in on the next Bethel goal, scored by Jake Calleja (Fr., New Richmond, Minn.), with the other assist going to Kyle Dynan (Sr., Orono, Minn.). Jack Paul (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn.) put the Royals up by two with just 19 seconds remaining in the first period by scoring his ninth goal of the season, assisted by Mason Swenson (So., Eagan, Minn.) and Jon Crouse (Fr., Alexandria, Minn.).

The Royals were a perfect 2-for-2 on power play opportunities in the first period, but it was the Oles turn to take advantage of a man advantage when they scored halfway through the second period. Fortunately, Bethel answered by scoring four minutes later. That's when Chaz Gerads (So., Blaine, Minn.) scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal, assisted by Swenson.

The Oles made the things close again in the third when CAleb Harrison scored his second goal of the game 3:14 in, but Lukas Jorgensen (Jr., Little Falls, Minn.) scored his third goal in as many games to give Bethel some breathing room at 5:55 into the final period.

Goalie Aaron Damjanovich (Sr., Remer, Minn.) stopped 22 shots on goal to pick up the win, and the Royals helped him stave off an extra-man attack late in the game. Bethel has now scored at least five goals in each of its last three games.

The Royals are now 7-4 in the MIAC and are inching closer to a .500 record overall at 9-11. St. Olaf falls to 2-3-4 in the conference and 8-6-4 overall. The same two teams will face each other tomorrow night in Northfield, with the puck dropping at 7 p.m.