BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team fell just short of completing a MIAC opening series sweep of the Saint Mary's University Cardinals as they settled for a 1-1 tie Saturday afternoon. The Royals and Cardinals engaged in an exciting, back-and-forth, contest with both teams firing shots on the net and both goaltenders making great save after great save. In all the Royals outshot the Cardinals 30-28 with Maggie Straka making 27 saves for Bethel, including 10 in the third period alone.

Megan O'Brian got the Royals on the board first with a beautiful breakaway goal. The score at the 10:27 mark of the first period would unfortunately be the last, however for Bethel. Saint Mary's took advantage of their lone power play of the game five minutes later to tie it up and neither team was able to get one past the respective goalies the rest of the way. The game was not void of action though as opportunities for both teams had their respective fans on their feet with multiple times with anticipation right up until the final seconds. Straka was excellent in goal for Bethel while Tori Herrmann was equally impressive for the Cardinals, making 29 saves.

The tie gives the Royals a three-point series as they sit in a tie for third place in the MIAC after the first weekend. Concordia and Augsburg both went 2-0 while Hamline also went 1-0-1. The Royals will faceoff next weekend with the University of St. Thomas, the preseason favorites and defending MIAC champions. The Tommies split their series with Gustavus.