Box Score
VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team found themselves behind 1-0 after the first period against the winless Hamline University Pipers, thanks in part to four penalties, but rallied with three goals each in the second and third periods for a 6-2 win. After scoring twice in his return to the ice Friday night,
Garrett Windle scored two more goals for the Royals, while freshman
Mitch Hughes scored a pair of goals as well. Both of Hughes goals came on Royals power plays. Freshman
Matt Rowe got the win in the net for Bethel, making 16 saves.
“Today was a very good win for us because the game started very slow as we experienced significant penalty trouble,” Royals coach
Charlie Burggraf said. “But we battled through and eventually had a great outcome. We had a number of good scoring opportunities and fortunately ended up with six goals. It is nice to be going into the break where we are in the standings.”
Hamline was able to get on the scoreboard just 3:27 into the game and the score remained 1-0 despite the Pipers having four power play opportunities throughout the rest of the first period. In the second period the Royals offense started to take over as
Mitch Hughes and
Garrett Windle scored a pair of goals within 42 seconds of each other in the 13th minute to give the Royals a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Jack Paul then scored for the Royals with just under three minutes remaining. Windle assisted on the play then, early in the third period after Hamline had scored to close within one, Windle scored his fourth goal and sixth point of the series on a Royals power play. Just 90 seconds later Hughes scored again on the Royals power play which came from a five minute major checking from behind penalty.
Tyler Sorensen closed the scoring for Bethel with his first goal of the season at with over ten minutes to go in the contest. Seven different Royals had assists in the game with Sorensen and
Tyler Swanson recording two each.
For the game Bethel spent a total of 22 minutes in the penalty box after being called for 11 penalties. Hamline committed seven penalties and spent 17 minutes in the box. After being outshot 7-5 in the first period the Royals outshot the Pipers 20-11 in the second and third periods and 25-18 in the game.
Bethel will be guaranteed to spend nearly a month and a half in first place in the MIAC standings after St. Thomas was defeated by Concordia and both teams stand at 5-1 heading into the break. The Royals will host Northland College from Ashland, Wis. in a game to be played at a neutral site in Moose Lake, Minn. next Friday night in their final game of 2012.
