MINNEAPOLIS – The Bethel University men's hockey team led early and late but came away with a tie against the defending MIAC champion and No. 12 ranked Augsburg College Auggies on Friday night, with the Auggies winning the shootout by a 1-0 score. The Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period and after seeing the Auggies take the lead back at 3-2, Bethel was able to get back ahead at 5-4 all in the second period. Augsburg was able to score late in the third period to send the game to overtime and eventually the shootout.

The Royals jumped on the Auggies early with a David Becker goal at 6:33 in the first period and a Peter Barral goal at 9:23 in the opening frame. The Auggies wasted little time in the second period erasing the Royals lead however. Just 24 seconds into the second, the Auggies scored their first goal. Augsburg then tied the game at 4:12 with a short-handed goal during a five minute major power play for Bethel. Ten minutes later the Auggies took the lead with a power play score at 14:27.

The final minute and fifteen seconds of the second period saw the Royals score three times, with an Augsburg score mixed in, as Bethel incredibly took a 5-4 lead into the final intermission. Barral started the scoring for Bethel with his second goal of the game at 18:45 to even it at 3-3. Augsburg reclaimed the lead at 19:08, but just eleven seconds later Dallas Marvin scored to make it 4-4. Bethel wasn't done as Nick Eytcheson scored with just eight seconds remaining in the period to give the Royals the lead once again heading into the break. David Becker assisted on each of the final two scores as he finished with three points on the night.

Augsburg was able to get the score they needed to tie the game on a power play goal late in the third period as just 3:15 was remaining on the clock. Neither team would score the rest of the way or in the five minute overtime period. The shootout to claim the extra point in the MIAC standings went the way of the Auggies. The Royals and Auggies both were stopped in their first attempt and Bethel was denied in their second attempt also. Augsburg converted their second attempt and then stopped Bethel's last chance to extend the shootout to take the second conference point.

The tie is the second this year for the Royals (1-9-2), each coming against an MIAC opponent ranked in the USCHO Top 15 as the Royals also tied with St. Thomas. Bethel is still searching for their first win in MIAC play however. The Royals and Auggies will square off again Saturday night in Bethel University Arena at 7 p.m.