Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS - With just two games left to play in the regular season, the Royals are surging, desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive. Tonight, they made sure they took care of things on their own by defeating Augsburg 3-2 on the road.

The Auggies scored less than three-and-a-half minutes into the game, but Bethel responded with two goals within three minutes of each other later in the first period. Kassy Sullivan (Jr., Roseville, Minn.) scored her fifth goal of the season to tie the game, assisted by Paige Lemieux (So., Fargo, N.D.), and then Sarah Kartak (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.) scored on a power play with the help of Lemieux and Molly Eagles (Fr., Falcon Heights, Minn.) to put Bethel up 2-1.

In the second period, Kartak scored again with what would prove to be the game winner at 18:24. Her second power play goal of the game was assisted by Eagles and Anna Carlson (So., Roseville, Minn.). Augsburg struck back late in the third period by skating with an extra attacker as Kali Holst scored her second goal of the game, but Jess Newstrom (Fr., Cambridge, Minn.) played solid in front of the net to help Bethel hang on to the win.

The Royals have now won three of their last four heading into next weekend's series with Hamline. Bethel is 8-14 overall, but more importantly 8-8 in conference play, while Augsburg drops to 2-11-3 in the MIAC and 2-18-3 overall. The Royals are currently in a tie for sixth place in the MIAC at 16 points, just one point out of fifth place and three out of fourth. The two teams Bethel is chasing in the standings, Saint Mary's and St. Olaf, square off against each other next weekend, while Concordia, the team Bethel is tied with, faces the daunting task of taking on St. Thomas.