EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The Royals left no doubt Friday night against the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire as BU went on to route the Blugolds 6-1 in the season-opener. Starting right where it left off in the 2010-11 season, Bethel used three goals in the opening period followed by three more the rest of the way.

With some question as to how prepared teams can be with only two weeks of practice, Bethel showed immediately they had no issue with starting the season early. Sophomore Cristina Masten (So., Fergus Falls, Minn.) delivered the Royals first goal in less than three minutes into the game, thanks to a Biz Huss (Jr., Beaver Bay, Minn.) and Anna Carlson (Sr., Roseville, Minn.) assist. Masten continued to lead the charge ten minutes later, drilling the second goal of the game at the 13:07-minute mark. Huss notched her second assist, along with Kalie Johnson (Fr., Richfield, Minn.), who also contributed on the play. Rachael Geng (Sr., South Saint Paul, Minn.) fired her first goal of the season on a power play with less than four minutes to play in the period on a pass from Carlson and Masten. UW-Eau Claire cut into the lead late in the first period when Stephanie Hatcher claimed the Blugolds only goal.

Scoring ceased until the 16-minute mark of period two when Cristina Masten seared the puck past the UW-EC's goalie for the second power play goal for Bethel, giving the Royals its first hat-trick of the 2011-12 season. BU added to its lead 20-seconds later when Kate Wahlin (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) connected on a Sarah Kartak (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Melani Robertson (So., Plymouth, Minn.) pass.

Charise Kendrick (So., Scandia, Minn.) filed Bethel's sixth and final goal in the third period from a puck that came from Casie Ecklund (So., Twig, Minn.) and Kaylen Erchul (Fr., Gilbert, Minn.).

Altogether the Royals took advantage of three power plays throughout the evening. Bethel forced UW-Eau Claire to shuffle through three goalies. Meanwhile Jess Newstrom (Jr., Cambridge, Minn.) was nearly flawless in the net for BU. Newstrom recorded 24 saves, only allowing one goal throughout the entire 60 minutes.

Bethel returns home Saturday to face the Blugolds again at the Bethel University Arena (National Sports Center) in Blaine, Minn.