BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team outshot the Concordia College Cobbers in two of the three periods Friday night but, unfortunately for the Royals, the Cobbers outscored Bethel in two of the three periods to take the series opener by a 6-2 score. After a 1-1 opening period where Bethel outshot Concordia 18-13 the Cobbers scored twice in the second while outshooting Bethel 18-8. The third period saw the Royals outshoot the Cobbers 16-13 but Concordia scored three times to Bethel's once.

After the Cobbers scored the games first goal at 12:16 in the first period, senior Andrew Bjorklund deflected home a pass from Crosby Steen and Kurtis Redding to tie it up at 1-1. The Cobbers would eventually take control of the game however, going on to score four unanswered goals in the second period and beginning of the third. The Royals got their second score when George Splichal was able to intercept the Concordia goalies' attempt to pass the puck out of the zone and fired in a shot from near the blue line into the back of the unattended net. The goal was a shorthanded score for Splichal and the Royals. Concordia was able to tack another score on with just 1:32 remaining for the 6-2 final.

The Royals and Cobbers will faceoff on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the season final for Bethel. Three Royals seniors will be honored immediately following the game in Andrew Bjorklund, Michael Bond and Al Nejmeh.