Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team came up on the short end of the first shootout in MIAC and NCAA DIII history Friday evening at Augsburg College. The Auggies and Royals skated to a 3-3 tie in regulation and Augsburg won the ensuing shootout 2-1 in five rounds. Augsburg claims the two points in the MIAC standings for the shootout win. The Royals are awarded just a single point in the MIAC standings despite never trailing in the game. This is the first year that the new point system has been in place for MIAC hockey and the Royals and Auggies put it to test immediately in the first MIAC game for the two teams. The Royals were able to get out to an early 2-0 lead behind two goals from Colin Mayer but the Auggies crept back into it and eventually tied the game up for the second time in the third period to send it into overtime.

Following the scoreless overtime period the shootout began with each shooter being stopped in the first round. In the second round both teams scored with Tyler Sorensen scoring for Bethel. From there each shot was denied until the Auggies were able to score in the fifth round and stopped Bethel's last shot to take the shootout win. Brock Raffaele, Mitch Hughes, Colin Mayer and Garrett Windle were all unsuccessful in the shootout for Bethel.

Bethel never trailed in the contest after Mayer scored in the first period on a power play goal and again near the end of the second period to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Augsburg was able to cut the deficit in half however, just 25 seconds after Mayer's second goal. The Auggies then tied it up 19 seconds into the third period. Another Royals power play goal gave Bethel the lead back at 3-2 with just under five minutes remaining in the contest. Mitch Hughes scored his fourth goal of the season and was assisted by EJ Gann and Brock Raffaele. Hughes and Mayer are the only Royals to find the back of the net through the first three games. Augsburg was not done though, as they were able to tie the game at 3-3 with just over a minute and a half remaining in regulation. The game headed to overtime where the two teams combined for just five shots in the extra period and went scoreless.

"It was a hard fought game," said Bethel head coach Charlie Burggraf. "But, it was a tough loss as we were never behind throughout the game. Steven Bolton played another outstanding game in the net and Colin Mayer had a good outing notching the two goals."

The new MIAC point system is designed to create some extra separation in the league standings as the MIAC has been so balanced in recent years. A regulation win is worth three points while a shootout win is rewarded with two points. A shootout loss results in a single point, while still counting as a tie on each team's records. A regulation loss does not count for any points.

The loss drops Bethel to 0-2-1 with all three games decided by just one goal. Augsburg is 2-0-1 on the young season. The Auggies and Royals will hookup again Saturday night at the Bethel University Arena at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. The puck drops at 7 p.m. Live video/stats can be found here.