BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team won a huge showdown Friday night with the Gustavus Adolphus College Golden Gusties by a 3-1 score. The win moves the Royals into a three-way tie for second place in the MIAC, just one point out of first, with three games remaining. The loss for Gustavus drops them into fifth place alone, three points behind the second place pack and just one point ahead of sixth place Saint Mary's.  Three different Royals scored Bethel's goals as they sandwiched a pair of goals around the Gusties lone goal in the second period and then added an empty netter at the end.

After a scoreless first period Hadley Cookson ignited the Royals and their home crowd with a short-handed, unassisted goal at 7:16 in the second period. The Gusties and the MIAC's leading scorer, Allison Eder-Zdechlik tied the game up 1-1 with a goal at 11:51 in the second. Briita Nelson gave the Royals the lead back for good however, with a power play goal at 17:47 in the second with assists to Natalie Simons and Erin Harper. The game remained 2-1 thanks in large part to great goaltending by the Royals Michelle Klimstra who made 34 saves with 13 coming in both the opening period and the final period where she did not allow a single goal. Wendy Roberts sealed the victory for Bethel with an empty net goal with seven seconds remaining with an assist from Hannah Williams.

The Gusties and Royals will square off Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the Don Roberts Ice Rink on the campus of Gustavus in St. Peter, Minnesota.