BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel University men's hockey team put up a strong effort against (RV) Saint John's University but a late third period goal was the difference in the Johnnies 5-4 victory over the Royals.
SJU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period but Bethel scored three unanswered goals within just over a minutes time at the end of the first and beginning of the second to take a 3-2 lead. The Johnnies recaptured the lead within the first half of the second period before Bethel retied the game in the third period at 4-4. The Johnnies game winner came 12:06 into the third period.
Peter Barral scored the Royals first goal with just 25 seconds remaining in the first period.
Nick Eytcheson and
Dylan Webster assisted Barral as the score was the first in the last five games for Bethel. The Royals continued their momentum into the second period as
Johan Kling found the back of the net just 19 seconds in tie the game at 2-2.
Jackson Purvis and Michael Piehler assisted Kling. The flood gates opened 29 seconds later when
Justin Bonanno scored the third Royals goal to take a 3-2 lead with Barral and Webster on the assists. The Johnnies used a power play score and an even strength score at 4:57 and 8:33 in the second period to take back the lead. Bethel wasn't done however as the combination of Bonanno, Barral and Webster teamed up again to score Bonanno's second goal of the game on a power play, tying things up at 4-4 at 5:16 in the third. SJU's game winner was scored on a great individual effort by Evan Okeley who beat a pair for Royals defenders and slid the puck between goalie
Joe Sheppard's pads. Sheppard made 34 saves on the night for Bethel.
The game marks the end of the first semester of action for Bethel and leaves the Royals with a 1-13 record and 1-7 in the MIAC. SJU moves into a tie for first place in the MIAC at 5-2 with 15 points and a 9-3-2 overall record. The Royals next action will be an exhibition game at Wisconsin-Stout on January 6th before returning to official play on Tuesday, January 9th when they host the College of St. Scholastica.
