MIAC Story | MIAC Playoffs

BLAINE, Minn.—The Bethel University women's hockey team is headed to the MIAC Championship game for the second straight season after defeating Augsburg College in an overtime thriller by a final score of 1-0. The Royals (15-9-2) took the lid off of Bethel Arena 1:58 into the overtime period when Hadley Cookson fired the game-winner past the Auggies' (13-10-3) goalie, earning them a trip to next Saturday's title game hosted by top-seeded St. Thomas at 2 p.m. The contest between BU and UST is not only a rematch of the 2015 MIAC Championship game, but also a battle of pride between the regular-season co-champions.

Augsburg out-shot Bethel 33-21 throughout the game, including a 15-3 advantage in the second period. That meant that starting goalie, Michelle Klimstra, had her hands full, as the sophomore stopped all 33 shots on net by the Auggies. Among her 33 saves, were three exceptional game-savers in the third period.

Klimstra's play in net, combined with outstanding effort from the Bethel D, allowed Cookson to be the hero of the Saturday's semifinal. Cookson managed to get the puck on the breakaway with just over three minutes remaining and she finished the open opportunity with an unassisted goal that hit the top right corner of the net just over the shoulder of Auggie goalie, Erika Allen.

After an immediate signal from the official, Bethel's bench cleared as they knew that they were headed to next weekend's title game. The Royals will face the Tommies, who took three points from them in the regular-season matchup, next Saturday in St. Paul at 2 p.m. with the MIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament on the line.