Box Score Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team tasted defeat for the first time in the 2012-13 season against a familiar foe in St. Olaf College as the Royals fell 3-1 Friday night. In a non-conference matchup against the Oles, who Bethel defeated 5-4 in overtime in the MIAC playoffs last winter, the breaks didn't go the Royals way.

“It was a good, fast game,” Royals coach Brian Carlson said. “We couldn't capitalize on our chances. It was a game of bounces.”

After putting up 11 goals in their first two games, the Royals were able to outshoot the Oles 37-31, but were only able to score once. The Oles scored the first goal of the game at the end of the second period and added another goal less than two minutes into the third period before the Royals got on the board. Lindsay Burman (Jr., Stanchfield, Minn.) scored the Royals lone goal 8:50 into the third period on an assist by Casie Ecklund (Jr., Twig, Minn.) to pull the Royals within one, but the Oles put the puck into an empty net with 49 seconds left to seal the game.

Royals senior Biz Huss (Beaver Bay, Minn.) led all players with 10 shots in the game and freshman Erika Allen (Roseville, Minn.) made 28 saves in goal for the Royals. Bethel had eight minutes of power play opportunities while St. Olaf had just four.

The Royals will return to the Bethel University Arena at the National Sports Center Saturday afternoon for a 3 p.m. matchup against the Concordia College Cobbers.