Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - For the second year in a row, the Royals have been mathematically alive in the MIAC playoff hunt on the last day of the regular season. For the second year in a row, fate was not on their side. Bethel gave a valiant effort to tie tonight's game against Augsburg in the waning seconds, but ultimately could not score in a 3-2 loss.

The Royals needed to tie or win tonight's game in order to secure the #4 playoff seed in the upcoming MIAC playoffs. Even a loss coupled with a St. Olaf loss would have allowed them safe passage. However, despite getting a big favor from Saint John's the night before, the Royals were not as fortunate tonight as the Johnnies were defeated by St. Olaf 8-3 in Northfield.

Bethel fell behind 2-0 after a pair of Augsburg goals in the first 12:39 of play. The Royals finally got on the scoreboard at 15:36 into the first when Jon Crouse (Fr., Alexandria, Minn.) netted his fourth goal of the season - shorthanded, no less - assisted by Christian Fogerty (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.).

Bethel proceeded to tie the game midway through the second period when Lukas Jorgensen (Jr., Little Falls, Minn.) scored with the help of Corey Grandner (Fr., Champlin, Minn.) and Chaz Gerads (So., Blaine, Minn.).

From that point, the two teams played a very efficient game, with both teams incurring just one penalty during the remainder of the game after the first period saw 11 penalties alone. However, it was Augsburg that scored an evenhanded goal at 3:25 into the third period that proved to be the Royals' final undoing.

The Royals finish their season with a 10-015 overall record and an 8-8 mark in the conference, while Augsburg advances with an 8-7-1 MIAC record and a 15-9-1 overall record.