ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team fell just short Friday night in an exciting, hard fought MIAC battle with the Hamline University Pipers, 5-4. In a back-and-forth contest the Pipers scored the first two goals before Bethel responded with two of their own. The Pipers scored again to go up 3-2 before Bethel answered again to tie it up. Hamline created some separation though with two goals in a row before Bethel's final goal with just over a minute remaining to make it 5-4 but that was where the scoring ended.

Jackson Purvis, TJ Christensen, Mitch Hughes and Justin Bonanno scored the Royals goals. Purvis' goal with an assist to Peter Barral came at 11:59 in the first period to draw Bethel within one at 2-1. Christensen scored the lone goal of the second period with just two minutes remaining in the frame to make it 2-2. Hamline scored at 2:55 into the third before Mitch Hughes scored on the Royals power play with Bonanno and George Splichal assisting. The MIAC scoring leaders, Hamline's Charlie Adams and Brandon Zurn teamed up to score midway through the third to give HU the lead. Another Piper goal two minutes later increased their lead to 5-3. Bonanno scored with just 1:11 remaining in the third period from Eric Szafranski and Travis Payne to give the Royals hope. After pulling goaltender Matt Rowe, with just over a minute remaining, Bethel was unable to get the equalizer. Rowe made 41 saves in net for Bethel, making just his second start of the season.

The loss drops Bethel  to 2-14-2 and 1-8 in the MIAC while Hamline improved to 7-9-4 and 4-6-1 in the MIAC.  The two teams will faceoff in Bethel University Arena Saturday night at 7 p.m.