Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - Five days into the New Year, and Bethel's men's hockey team has kept their resolution to win all of the rest of their games this season so far. That's because the Royals defeated the visiting Northland LumberJacks by a score of 6-3 today at the Schwan's Super Rink.

The Royals picked up where they left off last night when Mason Swenson (So., Eagan, Minn.) scored his first non-overtime goal of the season, this time with the help of Zack McGough (So., Roseville, Minn.) and Nik VanVonderen (Fr., Hayward, Wis.) at the 8:20 mark of the first period.

However, it didn't take Northland long to answer as Kraig Wright scored less than two-and-a-half minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. The LumberJacks then took the lead with three minutes left in the first period when Nick Hewko scored.

Bethel emerged from the intermission with a new sense of determination and quickly tied the game at 2:14 into the second as Blake Jenkins (So., Brookfield, Wis.) turned passes from Christian Fogerty (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.) and Jack Paul (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn.) into a goal. The Royals then had a great opportunity to take the lead as they had a 5-on-3 advantage by way of two Northland penalties within three seconds of each other. However, they were unable to capitalize, instead opting to score an evenhanded goal at 9:03. That's when Paul scored the first of his two goals, assisted by Jon Crouse (Fr., Alexandria, Minn.) and Fogerty. Paul struck again five minutes later, this time with the help of Fogerty and McGough.

Northland didn't allow the Royals to get too comfortable as the LumberJacks trimmed the lead back down to one with a goal 45 seconds after Paul's second. The second period ended with the score 4-3 in favor of Bethel.

Now in the third period, Jake Kogler (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) gave Bethel an insurance goal as he put the biscuit in the basket with the help of Chris Fiala (So., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) and Paul. The rest of the period was physical, but went on with little fanfare, save for an empty net goal with a minute and a half remaining, courtesy of Chaz Gerads (So., Blaine, Minn.), who was assisted by VanVonderen and Jenkins.

The Royals blasted nearly 100 shots on goal in their two games against the LumberJacks, with 46 coming tonight and last night. Michael Sperl (Fr., Little Falls, Minn.) earned his first collegiate victory by recording 19 saves from 22 shots on goal.

Bethel is now on the doorstep of .500 at 6-7 overall, while Northland heads home to Ashland, Wis., with an overall record of 2-10. Bethel will remain at home for another pair of games, starting this Friday against #16 nationally ranked UW-Superior, followed by #5 ranked St. Scholastica. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at Bethel University Arena inside the Schwan's Super Rink.