BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel University women's hockey team held down the high powered offense of No. 11 ranked Wisconsin-Superior and took a 3-1 victory in the series opener. The Royals scored once in the second period and twice in the third to take a 3-0 lead and held on to win their fifth straight game. The loss for UWS snapped a four game winning streak and marked just the third time in16 games they have been held to just one goal. The Yellowjackets entered the game averaging 3.9 goals per game, the sixth most in NCAA DIII women's hockey.

After a scoreless first period, Lindsay Burman started the scoring for Bethel with a power play goal 13:58 into the second period. Kathryn Larson assisted Burman. Lauren Kolak then scored the Royals next goal at 4:29 in the third period with assists to Jill Larson and Hadley Cookson. The Royals built their lead to 3-0 when Larson scored on assists from Kolak and Megan O'Brian at 6:54 in the third. The Yellowjackets, despite outshooting the Royals 22-15 for the game, would not get one past freshman goalie Maggie Straka until 17:19 in the third period. That would be all the scoring UWS could muster however.

Each team had five power play opportunities in the game with Bethel converting on one and holding the Yellowjackets scoreless in their chances. The Royals lead the nation in penalty killing percentage, improving on their 94.4% entering the game. Straka made seven saves each in all three periods to pick up the win for the third straight game. She improved to 5-0 overall on the season with a .918 save percentage.

Bethel will now travel to Superior, Wisconsin for a 3 p.m. faceoff with the Yellowjackets.
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