Box Score

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. - Bethel got a pair of goals from Chris Fiala (So., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) but was unable to hang on to a 5-3 third period lead against the hosting St. Thomas Tommies tonight.

After a quick goal by the Tommies early in the first period, Fiala helped the Royals answer back at 6:18, assisted by Jake Calleja (Fr., New Richmond, Wis.) and Tom Menozzi (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.). Five minutes later, Malcolm Richards (Fr., Yorktown, Va.) put Bethel up 2-1 with the help of Jon Crouse (Fr., Alexandria, Minn.) and Christian Ostigaard (Sr., Byers, Colo.).

Bethel extended its lead to 4-1 with a pair of goals in the second period - the first by Fiala, followed by Jack Paul (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn.) scoring his 11th goal of the season at the 6:15 mark. But then the Tommies began their comeback as they cut their deficit in half just a little over 30 seconds after Paul gave Bethel a three-goal lead. Less than five minutes later, St. Thomas scored again and found itself within one before Jake Irey (Fr., Waterloo, Iowa) gave Bethel some breathing room, for the time being, with his second goal of the season.

Now in the third period, the Tommies began to press harder and managed to fire 19 shots on goal compared to Bethel's four. Of those 19 shots on goal, four made it in, including an empty netter, thus sealing Bethel's fate. Alex Arnason earned a hat trick for the Tommies as Bethel's nemesis for the night.

The loss drops Bethel to 7-6 in MIAC play and 9-13 overall, while St. Thomas improves to 7-6-2 (10-10-4) to maintain a foothold on third place in the conference standings. The same two teams will face off against each other again on Saturday night at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. The puck drops at 7 p.m. for what could be an equally as wild game.