BLAINE, Minn. – Bethel University's women's hockey unit set the tone early for an exciting night of hockey for the Royal athletic program when defeating the Lindenwood University Lady Lions Friday 6-3. Friday's contest was a rare occurrence in which both the men's and women's hockey team were competing at nearly the same time on side-by-side rinks.
Lindenwood University, coming from Missouri, is in a fluctuating season as it transfers from Division III to Division I in women's hockey. The Lady Lions now drop to 2-21 on the season, with its two wins coming against MIAC opponents. The Royals had no give in Friday evening's affair, however, as BU went on to route LU 6-3.
The two teams started the game very similarly. In fact the first period ended with a 2-2 tie as Bethel began the frame with two early goals, only to see the score evened by the middle of the period.
Anna Carlson (Sr., Roseville, Minn.) scored just her second goal of the season on an unassisted power play two minutes into the game.
Kalie Johnson (Fr., Richfield, Minn.) followed suite, when delivering her own unassisted power play goal six minutes later. For Johnson it was her fifth goal of the season and the Royals second power play goal of the game. Longwood added two goals before the end of the period, leveling the score at two.
BU made great strides immediately out of the gates in the second period when
Cristina Masten (So., Fergus Falls) sliced her eighth goal of the season from
Rachael Geng and
Biz Huss past the Lady Lion's goalie. The even-manned goal was the only goal throughout the contest the Royals scored that wasn't on a power play. Masten picked up her ninth goal of the season eight minutes later from Huss again on a five-on-six advantage.
Huss made sure to continue to stay in the action when recording her seventh goal of the year on a power play goal with 8:31 left to play in the third period. Huss scored on a Carlson and Johnson assist. The Royals scored its fourth unanswered goal four minutes later when
Kate Wahlin (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) pierced the net with her fourth goal of the season, giving Bethel a 6-2 lead. Lindenwood added a third goal on a power play opportunity with 30 seconds remaining in the third period.
Head Coach
Brian Carlson's squad finished with 35 shots towards the LU net, capitalizing on six. Masten finished the night with two goals, while Huss completed her evening with a goal and two assists.
Anna Carlson also added to her team-leading total points of 15 with a goal and an assist, as well as
Kalie Johnson.
BU faces Lindenwood University in game two of the two-day double-header Saturday in an afternoon matinee. The puck drops at 3 p.m. in the Bethel University Arena at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.
