MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – Despite a 1-0 lead following the first period, Bethel surrendered three second-period goals and two more in the third, falling 5-2 to St. Thomas University on the road. Friday evening's contest gave the Tommies its tenth consecutive victory, which helped UST lock the regular season championship and No. 1 seed heading into the upcoming MIAC tournament.
In the first period
Jake Irey (Jr., Waterloo, Iowa) fired his second goal of the season, as both teams were at even strength, on an assist by
Chris Fiala (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) and
Chaz Gerads (Sr., Blaine, Minn.). Irey's goal gave the Royals a 1-0 lead with four minutes to play in the period, however, it lasted just over six minutes as the Tommies posted the equalizer less than three minutes into the second frame on a power play goal by Chris Cass. UST struck again on a power play goal three minutes later, giving St. Thomas its first lead with 14 minutes remaining in the second period. The Tommies added one more before the end of the 20-minute segment, which sent the opposing teams into the locker room with a 3-1 score in favor of the black and purple.
Jack Paul (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) cut into the lead 10 minutes into the third on a
Colin Mayer (So., Mound, Minn.) pass that narrowed the gap to one. Yet UST struck again four and six minutes later, which ended the night in favor of the hosting Tommies.
The Royals finished the contest with 24 shots on goal, led by Paul, who finished the MIAC matchup with four shots. BU outshot the Tommies 12-8 in the first frame, but couldn't hold the mold throughout the entire competition.
The loss drops Bethel to 4-5-2 within conference play and keeps them hungry for a win tomorrow as the Royals welcome UST to Blaine for the second game of the two-day double-header. The puck is set to drop at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday evening.
