ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team won a MIAC series opener for the first time this season with a 3-1 victory on the road against Hamline University. The Royals improved to 5-3-1 overall and 2-2-1 in MIAC play. Three different Royals scored while Michelle Klimstra made 21 saves in net for Bethel.

The Royals struck first at 8:15 in the first period with Lauren Kolak scoring with assists to Megan O'Brian and Kathryn Larson. O'Brian scored the Royals next goal with Kolak and Larson assisting. The score came early in the second period. The Royals scored again late in the second to build their lead to 3-0. Kalie Johnson scored her 84th career point on a power play goal. Freshman Natalie Simons and Briita Nelson assisted Johnson. The Pipers squeezed in their lone goal of the game with just over a minute remaining the second period. Neither team scored in the third period for the 3-1 final score.

Bethel's power play goal was just their third of the season on 28 chances. They had two power plays overall against the Pipers while Hamline had just one and was unable to score on three shots. Bethel outshot the Pipers 31-22 for the game.
The two teams will faceoff Saturday at 2 p.m. in Bethel University Arena at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Live video/stats can be found here.