BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel University men's hockey team hosted the Concordia University-Wisconsin Falcons Friday night and there was no shortage of offense in the contest with CUW coming out on top by a 6-4 score. The two teams showed no signs of a Thanksgiving hangover as they combined for six goals in the first period alone with the Falcons scoring the first two and the last two for a 4-2 lead after one period. CUW scored a pair of power play goals in the second period to extend out to a 6-2 lead before the Royals scored twice in the third period to get back into the game. Unfortunately for Bethel, it was too little – too late, a reoccurring theme for the Royals who have been outscored 16-5 in the opening period on the year but have outscored their opponents 10-5 in the third period.

The Falcons struck quickly with a pair of goals within the first six minutes of the game. After the initial shock the Royals scored on a power play at 11:08 in the first with Dallas Marvin putting it in from George Splichal. Andrew Bjorklund then scored for the Royals with assists to Jeff Flicker and Taylor Brown at 15:49. The Falcons took full advantage of the remaining four minutes however, scoring twice at 17:31 and 18:35 to take back the two-goal advantage. The scoring slowed in the second period until CUW was able to convert two power play opportunities into scores at 11:16 and 16:09. The same trend followed in the third period as neither team scored for the first 11 minutes before Dallas Marvin scored with an assist to George Splichal and then two minutes later Kurtis Redding scored on an incredible assist from Jackson Purvis along with Cole Smith. Bethel continued to put the pressure on the Falcons in the third period but were unable to get closer. The Royals outshot CUW 18-2 in the third period to draw even for the game at 32 each.

The Falcons will look to retain the Thanksgiving Cup in the fourth annual series between the two teams on Saturday as the squads will faceoff at 4 p.m. from Bethel University Arena.