BOX SCORE

BLAINE, Minn. – The Royals women's hockey team was back in action Friday evening as it hosted the 2010-11 MIAC champion Gustavus Adolphus College. The competition was a rematch between the two opponents who met in last season's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship last February. Similar to a year ago, the Gusties came away victories again, defeating BU 5-1. The loss is the Royals first of the season, as Bethel sits at 1-1-2 in its first four games. Gustavus remains undefeated with a perfect 3-0 record.

The Royals were down from the get-go when Lindsey Hjelm of GAC converted a power play with 10:29 remaining in the opening period, giving Gustavus the 1-0 lead. The Gusties added its second goal of the night just over a minute into the second period on Carolyn Draayer's goal. Bethel cut into the lead four minutes later when Cristina Masten (So., Fergus Falls, Minn.) recorded her fourth goal of the season and first since the hat-trick she recorded against UW-Eau Claire. Masten's goal came from Anna Carlson (Sr., Roseville, Minn.), and Rachael Geng (Sr., South Saint Paul, Minn.). Additionally Masten's goal awards Carlson her sixth assist of the season, leading BU.

The Gusties extended its lead with two more goals in the second, followed by one in the third. Mollie Carroll scored twice in a row for Gustavus, with one being a short-handed goal at the 13:47 point and the other being one minute before the end of the second. Lindsey Hjelm added her second goal of the competition at the six-minute mark in the third. That would be more than enough, as Gustavus Adolphus skated out with 5-1 win.

Biz Huss (Jr., Beaver Bay, Minn.) led Bethel, who composed 25 total shots, with six attempts at the net. Masten aided Huss's effort with four shots on goal, while Lakeville, Minn. natives Kate Wahlin (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Sarah Kartak (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) each added three shots. The Royals outshot the Gusties in the second period, but the advantage in the second was not nearly enough.

BU will seek revenge Saturday night when it travels to St. Peter to take on GAC for the final time of the regular season at 7 p.m.