Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - She's done it again! Kassy Sullivan (Jr., Roseville, Minn.) scored the game-winning goal with less than 10 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Royals to a 3-2 win. Tonight, it was against Hamline in a game that has very big playoff implications for Bethel.

Just four weeks ago, Sullivan scored with six seconds remaining in overtime to upend St. Olaf by the same score. Molly Eagles (Fr., Falcon Heights, Minn.) and Allison Papko (Jr., Winnipeg, Manitoba) assisted on the game-winner, and the Royals now find themselves in the thick of a playoff race that has yet to see a fourth and fifth seed be decided with just one game left.

Bethel fell behind early in the first period when Hamline scored just over four minutes into the game. The Royals knotted the game up at one apiece 8:44 into the second period when Sullivan scored on a power play, assisted by Sarah Kartak (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Kate Wahlin (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.).

However, six minutes minutes later, the Pipers regained the lead, bringing us to the third period. Papko evened the score at 2-2 with her sixth goal of the season, aided by Eagles and Paige Lemieux (So., Fargo, N.D.). The two teams remained deadlocked until the overtime period.

With just 14 seconds left, Hamline was called for an interference penalty, giving the Royals a skater advantage. Eagles fired a shot that was saved, only for Sullivan to put the rebound in the net for the dramatic win as time was on the verge of running out. As a squad, the Royals outshot the Pipers 34-13.

Bethel is now back over the .500 mark in conference play at 9-8 and is 9-14 overall with just one game left to go. Meanwhile, Hamline falls to 6-15-3 overall and 3-12-2 in the conference. The two teams will face off against each other again on Saturday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. A Bethel win, coupled with a Saint Mary's tie or loss will give the Royals their third consecutive playoff berth.