BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team exploded for a season high six goals in a 6-0 romp over St. Olaf College Saturday afternoon, one night after being on the other end of a 4-0 decision. The Royals started slowly as neither team scored in the first period while St. Olaf nearly scored twice but the second period saw signs of life in the Bethel offense. Two second period goals where then followed by four in the third period as several of the Bethel scores were of highlight reel quality.
The Royals broke through in the second period when
Wendy Roberts went on a two-on-one break along with
Allie Fischer. Roberts skated in deep and wound up for a big slap shot but then at the last moment flipped a pass to Fischer who found the wide open net from just a few feet away. The great play ignited the Royals offense, which had scored just one goal over their previous seven periods.
Lauren Kolak was able to punch a loose puck after a
Caroline Kivisto shot in between the goalies pads for the second score at 15:12 in the second period.
Early in the third period
Briita Nelson stole an Ole pass and took the puck all the way herself and fired one into the top shelf to put the Royals up 3-0. Just over a minute-and-a-half later
Megan Niblock made it 4-0 with an assist from
Sarina Goos. Kolak scored her second goal of the game at 10:16 in the third with Kivisto and Nelson assisting. Senior defenseman
Erin Harper then scored her second goal of the season at 12:26 with assists to
Natalie Simons and Nelson to finish the scoring at 6-0.
Michelle Klimstra made 16 saves for her third shutout of the season, all in MIAC play. Neither team scored on the power play as Bethel was 0-for-3 and St. Olaf was 0-for-2. The Royals outshot St. Olaf 42-16, a new season high in shots for Bethel.
The win moved the Royals into a three-way tie for second place alongside Augsburg and Concordia, just one point behind league leading St. Thomas and one point ahead of fifth place Gustavus. The Royals will have a huge showdown with the Gusties next weekend while St. Thomas and Augsburg will hook up. Concordia plays St. Olaf next weekend before finishing with Bethel.
