BLAINE, Minn. – Bethel University's men's hockey team opened up Saturday evening's contest with three goals en route to a 5-3 defeat over Augsburg College. The Royals, who scored three and allowed two in the opening 20 minutes, went into the locker room after the first period with a 3-2 lead, only to see the Auggies even it up at 3-3 in the second. BU came back in the third period with two goals in the first 1:28, however, to put the game away.
Jimmie Perkins (Fr., Chicago, Ill.) started the scoring brigade 32 seconds into the game, when finishing a
Jake Kogler (Sr., Forest Lake, Minn.) and
Jon Crouse (Jr., Alexandria, Minn.) pass. Newcomer
Jack Emmer (Fr., Delano, Minn.) added to the mix with his first goal of the season, from
Jack Paul (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) and Perkins. Leading 2-0 BU surrendered a shorthanded goal to the Auggies at the eight-minute mark, however, the Royals pushed its lead back to two goals when
Garrett Windle (So., Downington, Pa.) finished a shot in front of the net from
Tyler Swanson (Fr., Fargo, N.D.) and Tyler Sorenson (So., Madison, Wis.). Augsburg got one back four minutes later, ending the period 3-2 in favor of Bethel.
The last time BU scored three goals in the opening period came in back-to-back competitions in late November/early December versus Northland College and Hamline University. The Royals owned a 3-0 lead against Northland after one, and lost the matchup 8-4, yet Bethel defeated Hamline 5-2 after three early goals against the Pipers.
The Auggies attempted to ruin the Royals' three-goal period by scoring a goal late in the second, evening the game at three. Yet BU came out explosive in the third, adding two more goals to its total in the first minute and a half. Kogler scored his 13
th goal of the season from Paul 14 seconds into the frame, followed by a
Chris Fiala breakaway goal just over a minute later. Bethel then held Augsburg scoreless the rest of the way, securing the 5-3 victory.
With the win Bethel is now 5-7-2 in conference play, and stands three points away from the MIAC playoffs. The Royals will play a pair of games against Saint John's University this Thursday and Friday in the final week of the regular season. The Johnnies are in a three-way tie for second with Gustavus and St. Olaf, so a sweep over SJU gives BU a shot at the postseason.
