BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team fell to No. 15 St. Thomas 7-3 at home Friday night. Bethel found themselves in a 5-0 hole midway through the second period but were able to score three unanswered goals to get themselves back in the game at 5-3 with 14 minutes remaining. Unfortunately for Bethel they were unable to get any closer as UST tacked on a power play and short-handed goal. The game saw a total of 23 penalties called, 13 on the Royals.

The Tommies scored their first goal of the game 12 minutes into the first period and added another two-and-a-half minutes later. Their next score came on a power play 7:31 into the second period. Two more goals within 47 seconds of each other made it 5-0 with five minutes remaining in the second period. The Royals were able to get on the board when Tony Larson sniped one in from the point with assists to Eric Szafranski and Brock Raffaele. Larson added another just 2:29 into the third period from Grant Dye and Justin Bonanno. The Royals really got a lift when Mitch Hughes made a fantastic play and scored an unassisted, short-handed goal for Bethel at 5:46 of the third. St. Thomas answered quickly however, as just 16 seconds later they were able to get a goal that hit off the Royals goaltender, Matt Rowe's, back and went in during another UST power play. The Tommies added their final goal short-handed at 12:10 in the third.

The Royals and Tommies will faceoff again Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the St. Thomas Ice Arena on the St. Thomas Academy campus in Mendota Heights.