Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team was victimized by three power play goals in the second period and fell 5-2 at home to the University of St. Thomas. The two teams were scoreless in the first period before St. Thomas broke through with a goal 9:40 into the second period. From there penalties were the story, as St. Thomas scored twice within forty seconds on a 5-3 and a 5-4 after a slashing and holding penalties on Bethel to go up 3-0 and take control of the game. In the second period alone, UST had five power plays and eight total for the game, converting on three of them. Conversely, the Royals were 1-4 on power play opportunities.

Following the Tommies third goal, Bethel was able to get a power play conversion of their own as Travis Payne deflected in a Eric Szafranski shot to make it 3-1 at 16:55 in the second period. The Royals momentum was short lived however as another penalty put St. Thomas back on the power play which they converted with just 30 seconds remaining in the period. Through the first two periods UST outshot Bethel 32-8.

In the third period St. Thomas scored 4:36 in to stretch their lead to 5-1. Grant Dye provided another highlight for Bethel as he scored off an assist from Tyler Sorensen at 7:27. The Royals gave a great effort in the final period, outshooting UST 9-4, but were unable to score again. Steven Bolton made 31 saves for Bethel.

The Tommies remain unbeaten in MIAC play at 10-0-2 and took over first place in the MIAC standings, moving one point ahead of Gustavus. Bethel falls to 2-9-1 in MIAC play. The Royals will take on defending MIAC champion Saint John's next weekend.