The Bethel University women's hockey team is making their second consecutive appearance in MIAC title game. After erupting for 13 goals in the first two rounds of the 2015 playoffs, the Royals were defeated 3-2 by the Tommies in last year's championship matchup. It will be a rematch in this year's conference finale as the No. 2 seeded Royals will take on the No. 1 seeded Tommies. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday in Mendota Heights at the St. Thomas Ice Arena.
MIAC Preview |
Live Video |
MIAC Playoffs |
Interactive bracket#2 Bethel (15-9-2) |
Roster | Schedule | Statistics#1 St. Thomas (19-5-2) |
Roster | Schedule | StatisticsPrevious matchupsNov. 20, 2015 | Blaine, Minn. | Bethel 2, St. Thomas 2 | [
Game recap /
Box score]
Nov. 21, 2015 | Mendota Heights, Minn. | St. Thomas 1, Bethel 0 | [
Game recap /
Box score]
How they got hereBoth teams received first round byes and pulled out dramatic wins in the MIAC semifinals
Bethel defeated Augsburg 1-0 in overtime, scoring the game-winning goal with just over three minutes remaining
St. Thomas defeated Concordia 2-1, both goals coming from senior Courtney Umland
Who to watch forJunior
Lauren Kolak leads the team in goals (10) and has scored four times in the last four games
Sophomore goalie
Michelle Klimstra has allowed just three goals in her last five games, including Saturday's shutout of Augsburg
Senior forward
Caroline Kivisto was one of three Royals recently named to the All-MIAC team and has compiled 5 points in her last three contests
Game NotesBethel UniversityBU extended their winning streak to six games with Saturday's win over Augsburg
The Royals are now 6-5 in their last 11 MIAC playoff games, scoring more than 4.3 goals per game in those six victories
Bethel has not defeated St. Thomas on their home ice since 2011
The Royals have compiled just six wins against the Tommies in 17 seasons but have performed better recently, posting a record of 2-5-2 over the past four seasons
St. ThomasThe Tommies are 12-2-1 at the St. Thomas Ice Arena this season
UST is nationally ranked as the No. 10 team in Division III
Over the past seven seasons the Tommies have posted a record of 127-64-22 and made their first ever trip to the NCAA Frozen Four following the 2013-14 campaign
The Tommies had five players named to the MIAC All-Conference first team including the league's Player-of-the-Year