ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – In their final home game of the 2012 season the Bethel Royals came up short in their quest to upset St. Olaf, falling 4-2. St. Olaf, the defending Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) champions, entered the day in a tie for fourth place and fighting for one of the four playoff spots. In a too familiar story, the Royals gave up a goal within the first minute, but were able to respond when senior Brian Holm scored 14 minutes later. Jeremy Tan scored the other goal for the Royals three minutes into the second period. The Oles had allowed just two goals in their previous six games while scoring 22 themselves. It was only the second time all year they had allowed two goals in a single game.

“It was a good, fun game today,” said Royals coach Jeremy Iwaszkowiec. “I am happy with our effort. We competed for 90 minutes. St. Olaf is a good team and they executed well. We made a few mistakes and they capitalized. We are playing well and battling with some of the best teams in the conference.”

In the first minute the Oles were able to get a corner kick and capitalized with a goal by Stephen Johnson to put the Royals in an early hole. Playing in his final home game, Brian Holm took a pass from Matthew Pisarski and snuck one past the Ole goalkeeper. It was Holm's first goal of the season and seventh of his career. St. Olaf scored two more times in the first period before Jeremy Tan put one home three minutes into the second period to pull the Royals within one. St. Olaf would tally once more, however, at the 69 minute mark for the final 4-2 margin.

The Royals were able to get off 12 shots and put seven of them on goal. Holm and Kolten Fischer each had a pair of shots on goal for the Royals. AJ Syler made six second half saves in goal, including three in a row in a period of 30 seconds early in the second period when the Oles sent five shots in following a penalty kick. St. Olaf took 23 shots in the game with 14 on goal.

Bethel will travel to St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon for the final game of the 2012 season. The Tommies are currently 6-1-1 in the MIAC and in a three way tie for second place.