Box Score

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. - For the second time in as many weeks, Bethel has played strong against one of the top teams in the conference, taken them to overtime, only to be defeated in heartbreaking fashion in the extra period. Today, it was the St. Thomas Tommies who outlasted the Royals by scoring less than a minute into sudden death overtime to prevent Bethel from sweeping the season series by handing them a 2-1 loss.

The Tommies drew first blood less than four minutes into the first period, but Allison Papko (Jr., Winnipeg, Manitoba) answered with less than two minutes remaining in the first, aided by Paige Lemieux (So., Fargo, N.D.).

Like the night before, the next 40-plus minutes of game time were dictated by the defensive prowess of each team. Jess Newstrom (Fr., Cambridge, Minn.) earned her keep between the pipes by stopping 31 of 33 Tommie shots, thus limiting one of the top three MIAC scoring offenses to just two goals in two games.

The game was also remarkably efficient in terms of continuous play. There were just five penalties all game, and neither team capitalized on their limited number of power play opportunities.

The series split gives Bethel a 6-8 record in conference play, while dropping them to 6-14 overall. St. Thomas improves to 10-3-1 in the MIAC and 12-7-2 overall. Bethel returns to the ice next weekend to take on Augsburg, beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday night at home.