Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - Bethel entered its game with the St. Catherine Wildcats looking to get back on the winning track heading into the final weeks of play. However, the Wildcats had other plans and defeated the Royals 2-1.

All season long, St. Catherine has been on the cusp of being a nationally ranked team, and all season long, Bethel has done a good job of hanging with even the toughest of opponents, thanks to outstanding goalie play. Tonight, Jess Newstrom (Fr., Cambridge, Minn.) stopped 41 of the 43 shots that came her way, but her counterpart was able to do one better.

Neither team scored until the last three minutes of the first period. That's when St. Catherine took a 1-0 lead on a power play. Five and a half minutes into the second period, the Wildcats struck again, giving them all they would need for the win. Bethel cut its deficit in half when Molly Eagles (Fr., Falcon Heights, Minn.) scored on a power play at 8:09 into the second period with the help of Anna Carlson (So., Roseville, Minn.), but it would not be enough.

The Royals had another great opportunity to skate with a two attacker advantage late in the third period as they pulled the goalie and were able to start a power play with just seven seconds remaining, but the sand ran out too quickly for Bethel.

The loss drops the Royals to 5-11 overall and 5-6 in conference play heading into Saturday's game with St. Catherine, who is now 12-4 overall and 8-3 in the MIAC. The two teams are scheduled to face off against each other at 7 p.m. at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, home of the University of Minnesota Gophers women's hockey team.