BLAINE, Minn. – Bethel University's men's hockey squad squared off against the University of St. Thomas Saturday night in a nonconference affair, in which 13 goals were scored throughout the contest. At one point the Tommies led the contest 5-0, however, Bethel scored three unanswered goals to bring the score to 5-3, before falling in the end 9-4.

The first period ended with a 2-0 score in favor of UST. Goaltender Robby Brown (Fr., Battleboro, Vt.) surrendered an early goal with 17:08 remaining in the period, before giving up a power play goal to the Tommies with 7:08 on the clock. At the end of the first period both teams had fired 11 shots towards the opposing net, but it was UST that found two pucks between the pipes.

St. Thomas added to its lead 30 seconds into the second frame on an even-strength goal followed by another even-strength goal four minutes later that took the freshmen Brown out of the net. Dan Harper (So., Blaine, Minn.) then stepped in the crease to defend the Bethel net, yet couldn't handle the Tommie offense as they advanced its fifth goal on a UST power play. The Royals then scored three consecutive goals in three minutes that put the St. Thomas lead to 2.

Dan Rowland (Jr., Boston, Mass.) scored his first goal of the season on a power play opportunity that came from Colin Mayer's (So., Mound, Minn.) and Austin Hatch's (Sr., Cloquet, Minn.) stick. Grant Dye trickled his second goal of the season past the Tommie goalie 50 seconds later on a Danny Smith (Fr., Hermantown, Minn.) assist. Chris Fiala (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) ratcheted his fourth goal of the season with 1:44 remaining in the second period, on a Jake Kogler (Sr., Forest Lake, Minn.) and Jack Paul (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) pass.

Trailing by two goals heading into the third and final frame the Royals needed to come out with the utmost aggression, yet rather than BU finding timely goals it was UST, as the Tommies poured on four third-period goals. In fact St. Thomas limited Bethel to just one shot in the third frame, however, BU took advantage of its one shot – scoring its fourth goal of the game on a Tyler Swanson (Fr., Fargo, Minn.) goal with 6:20 to play in the third period.

The Royals finished the game with 20 total shots and allowed nine goals to the Tommies. Jack Paul led the Royals Saturday night with seven total shots, while Koger finished with three. The loss drops the Royals to 5-10 overall (3-3 MIAC) on the season and puts Bethel on a two-game skid. BU will attempt to make amends for the weekend's games next week when facing Saint Mary's next weekend in a two-game conference series.