WINONA, Minn. - After a 5-3 thriller Friday night the Royals jumped out of the gates Saturday evening to take the 2-0 lead over the Saint Mary's Cardinals, however, BU couldn't hold on as SMU rallied back with two goals late in the third period to end the game in a 2-2 tie. Bethel scored a first period goal with just over ten seconds remaining in the frame and another one nearly 12 minutes into the third, but the Cardinals found a way to score three and four minutes later, forcing a tie and just a single point for each team.
Jack Paul (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) added to his season total in the first period when he fired his ninth goal of the year past the Saint Mary's goalie, on a
Tyler Sorensen (So., Madison, Wis.) pass. Each team composed nine shots in the first period, but it was the Royals who entered the break with a goal with 11 seconds remaining in the period.
Neither team mustered a goal in the second period, although
Dan Harper (So., Blaine, Minn.) put on a clinic with 16 blocked shots in the frame.
Jimmie Perkins (Fr., Chicago, Ill.) rocketed his second goal of the season on a power play opportunity for the Royals with just over eight minutes remaining in the game. The Cardinals continued to fire shots towards Harper and the BU goal and were able to manufacture two late power play goals that kept the game even at two a-piece.
Both teams struggled to get shots off in the five-minute overtime, putting the game to rest 2-2. Paul led the Royals with four shots toward the SMU net, while
Tyler Swanson (Fr., Fargo, N.D.),
Chris Fiala (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.), and Perkins each had three.
Bethel will prepare for St. Olaf next weekend in another Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference two-day doubleheader that features a game at Bethel University Arena Friday evening, followed by a trip to Northfield, Minn. Saturday. With the tie the Royals now stand at 4-4-1 within conference play.
