Box Score

 
BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team became the first MIAC team to knock off the University of St. Thomas Friday night by a score of 5-3. The Royals never trailed in the game which was full of intensity and physical play between two of the top teams in NCAA DIII women's hockey. The two teams traded goals in the first two periods, before Bethel took control of the game by scoring three goals in a span of six and a half minutes at the end of the second period and into the start of the third. Cristina Masten scored Bethel's first two goals while Lindsay Burman and Kathryn Larson scored once and had two assists each. UST had allowed just 14 goals in their previous 16 games before surrendering five to the Royals and suffering their first loss in the last ten games and first in MIAC play.

Masten started the scoring off with a laser slap shot past St. Thomas' All-American goalie Alise Riedel on a Bethel power play 11:32 into the first period. The game would remain 1-0 until St. Thomas tied the game at one all 6:46 into the second period. Just 2:16 later Masten was able to knock home a loose puck to put Bethel back on top, 2-1. For Bethel's All-American, it was her MIAC leading 29th point and 16th goal of the season. Caroline Kivisto and Kalie Johnson assisted on the goal.

St. Thomas was able to convert a power play to tie the game back up at two at 13:38 in the second. Three minutes later Kathryn Larson gave the Royals the lead for good with a goal at 16:29. Lauren Kolak and Burman assisted on Larson's goal.

The third period started with a flurry as Bethel was able to convert on a power play that carried over from the second period when Erin Harper fired one in off a rebound just 27 seconds in, stretching Bethel's lead to 4-2. Burman and Larson created the opportunity for Harper. Just over a minute later St. Thomas pulled within one as they were able to get one through Erika Allen's legs. It was the last goal the Tommies would score as Allen made seven third period saves and 22 for the game. Bethel needed just 18 seconds to regain their two goal lead as Burman found the back of the net from Larson and Kolak, marking the third goal scored by each team within the first two minutes of the third period. The game would remain scoreless from there, however and the Royals moved to within two points of both UST and Gustavus in the MIAC standings.

The Royals and Tommies will square off Saturday at 2 p.m. at the St. Thomas Ice Arena on the campus of St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minn.