ST. PAUL – The Bethel University men's hockey team once again battled hard in a crushing defeat as they fell in overtime to the Hamline University Pipers by a 3-2 score. The Pipers scored first and last with Bethel tying the game up twice along the way but ultimately falling with just 1:40 remaining in overtime. Bethel goalie Jesse Garcia put together his best performance of the season, making a season and career high 56 saves, including four in overtime before Hamline scored the game winner.
 
The Royals and Pipers traded power play goals in the first period with Kurtis Redding scoring Bethel's first goal on the power play in their last five games. Dallas Marvin assisted Redding. Neither team scored in the second period as Garcia made 20 saves for the Royals to keep the game tied at 1-1. Hamline scored at 4:54 in the third period to take at 2-1 lead but just three minutes later the Royals were able to tie it back up. George Splichal and Peter Barral teamed up to tie the game with the third period goal for the second consecutive night with Adam Marty also assisting on the score. The game headed into overtime for the third time this season for Bethel but for the first time the game ended in overtime, with the Pipers scoring 3:40 into the five minute session to take the win. All three overtime games for the Royals, the previous two ending in ties, have come against the top three teams in the MIAC in St. Thomas, Augsburg and Hamline.  
 
The loss leaves Bethel still in search of their first MIAC win at 0-8-2 and 1-16-2 while Hamline improved to 7-4-1 and 10-8-3 and into third place in the MIAC. Next weekend Bethel takes on St. Olaf College with Friday's contest taking place in Northfield and Saturday at Bethel University Arena.