BLAINE, Minn. - Bethel University's men's hockey team picked up its third win in its last four games by defeating Hamline University in the second straight contest between the two teams Saturday evening. The Royals outlasted the Pipers 4-3 on a Chaz Gerads (Sr., Blaine, Minn.) overtime goal. BU launched the puck past the HU goalie and into the net once in each period.

Each team displayed a plethora of intensity immediately when the puck dropped to begin the game. Throughout the grind of competition Jake Kogler (Sr., Forest Lake, Minn.) found his seventh goal of the season, as Kogler benefited from a Chris Fiala (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) and Colin Mayer (So., Mound, Minn.) pass. The Royals missed several close calls in the first period, out-shooting the Pipers 10-8 in the opening 20 minutes and hitting the pipe twice.

In the middle period Bethel continued to apply the pressure and push the puck into the Hamline zone. Chaz Gerads finished a shot in front of the HU goal that came from a rebounded shot attempt by Corey Grandner (Jr., Champlin, Minn.) that also came off Jon Crouse's (Jr., Alexandria, Minn.) stick. With a 2-0 lead Bethel slipped in the final seconds of the second frame when Nick Widding scored a power play goal for the Pipers, cutting the BU lead to one.

Hamline evened the score two minutes into the third period on another power play opportunity when Brian Arrigoni delivered the Pipers second goal of the competition. Jake Kogler and the BU offense responded four minutes later when Kogler striped his second goal of the game past the Piper defenders, giving the Royals the 3-2 advantage. Bethel was just over three minutes away from notching its second win in a row until HU evened the score once again on a second Brian Arrigoni goal.

Regulation ended with a 3-3 tie, yet the Royals intensity and desire hinted that they were in no way comfortable with a tie. BU's on-ice performance didn't either as Chaz Gerads hit his second goal of the game with 1:29 left to play. Gerads tallied the games deciding goal off a pass from Austin Hatch (Sr., Cloquet, Minn.) and Garrett Windle (So., Downington, Pa.).

Gerads' and Kogler's goals were decisive to Saturday's victory, however, Robby Brown (Fr., Battleboro, Vt.) and the Royal defense played exceptionally on its end of the ice. Brown recorded 32 saves Saturday evening, including 13 alone in the third period.

Bethel's men's hockey team returns to the ice next Saturday when it hosts the Milwaukee School of Engineering at the Bethel University Arena.