BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team handed the four-time defending MIAC champion University of St. Thomas Tommies their first loss in conference play with a 2-1 victory Saturday night. The win is the first for Bethel on the season as they were able to get their first win over UST since February 2013. In a cleanly played game that did not see either team whistled for a penalty until mid-way through the second period, and only five total for the game, the Royals led the majority of the contest.

Bethel struck first late in the first period when Mitch Hughes was able to finish in front of the net after being set up by Dylan Webster and Travis Payne. Bethel held the 1-0 lead until early in the third period when the Tommies were able to get on the board at the 4:43 mark. The Royals were able to take the lead back five minutes later however as just seconds after their first power play of the night ended, Justin Bonanno tipped in a JT Walters shot. Taylor Brown set Walters up on the play. Bethel earned two more power play opportunities in the third period while also killing off one UST power play and playing the last 1:39 with an extra UST skater as they pulled goalie Joe Morris to hang on for the victory. UST held a slight shot advantage at 26-23 but Bethel's Jesse Garcia was solid as he earned his first collegiate victory.

The win improves Bethel to 1-3 in the MIAC and 1-6-2 overall as they have wrapped up MIAC play for the 2015 portion of their schedule. The Royals will head to Concordia-Wisconsin for the third annual Thanksgiving Cup series to be played Friday and Saturday in Mequon, Wisconsin.   Bethel's MIAC bye week comes the following week, meaning the Royals are then off until January 8th.