Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS - With two games left to play and both teams looking to clinch a conference playoff berth, much was at stake in tonight's game between the Bethel Royals and Augsburg Auggies. Despite falling behind 3-2 at one point, the Royals scored three unanswered goals - all in the last nine minutes of play - to win on the road tonight, 5-3.

Jack Paul (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn.) put Bethel up 1-0 at the 5:20 mark of the first period, assisted by Mason Swenson (So., Eagan, Minn.). Swenson would then add a goal of his own barely two and a half minutes later with the help of Jake Calleja (Fr., New Richmond, Wis.) and Tom Menozzi (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.). However, with just under a minute to play in the first period, Augsburg struck back on a power play to make the score 2-1 heading into intermission.

In the second period, the Auggies tied the game in a hurry, using only 21 seconds to get the puck in the net. They repeated the feat on the back end of the period by scoring with just 13 seconds remaining before the second intermission to take their first lead of the night, leaving the Royals with a 3-2 deficit to overcome.

With the taste of last Friday's loss still bitter in the mouths of the Royals, they emerged from the locker room a determined bunch and used the next 20 minutes to exact their revenge and take the game back. At 11:28, Christian Fogerty (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.) tied the game at three apiece on a power play, aided by passes from Swenson and Jake Kogler (So., Forest Lake, Minn.). Five minutes later, Chris Fiala (So., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) put Bethel back out in front by scoring unassisted.

Augsburg then went into do-or-die mode in the last minute of play, and subsequently died as a result of their decision to pull the goalie. Fogerty netted his second goal of the game - not assisted or contended - and the Royals locked up a key win to put them in sole possession of fourth place in the MIAC standings with just one game to go.

At 8-7 in the conference and 10-14 overall, Bethel has 16 points will look to clinch a playoff spot on Saturday night against Augsburg at home. Meanwhile, Augsburg is 7-7-1 in the MIAC and 14-9-1 overall, which is good for 15 points. Bethel got some help from Saint John's this evening as well, as they defeated St. Olaf by a score of 5-3, keeping the Oles at bay in the sixth position in the conference with just 14 points. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. at Bethel University Arena at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine.