NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey teams comeback attempt fell heartbreakingly short in Northfield, Minnesota Saturday afternoon as the Royals fell at St. Olaf College by a 4-3 score in overtime. Down 3-1 entering the third period the Royals fought back, tying the game midway through the period with a pair of goals but the Oles were able to hold tight the rest of the way and found the game winner 1:40 into overtime. The loss puts the Royals hopes of entering the MIAC playoffs for a seventh consecutive year on life support as they now find themselves five points out of the final playoff spot with just four games remaining.

The Oles were able to jump out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of goals within the first eight minutes of the game. Bethel scored their first goal at 19:10 in the first period when Kirsten Olson converted a power play opportunity with an assist from Sarina Goos. The Oles scored the second periods lone goal to gain a 3-1 lead heading into the third period. Bethel, the defending MIAC regular season champions, showed their grit by scoring twice in a two-minute span in the third to tie the game. Freshman Kaitlyn VanTassel scored first at 5:05 with and assist from Wendy Roberts. Just under two minutes later, Roberts scored herself to tie the game with assists from Briita Nelson and Sarina Goos. The Oles called timeout to regroup after the Royals tied the game but Bethel kept the pressure on, firing off six shots on goal over the next few minutes to just one by St. Olaf. The Royals momentum was slowed a bit after a checking penalty gave the Oles a power play with 5:46 remaining. St. Olaf was able to get five shots off during the power play but Michelle Klimstra stopped them all. The Royals managed just one more shot the rest of the way and in overtime as the Oles scored 1:40 in to give them the victory and jump the Royals in the MIAC standings.

Bethel falls to 7-10-4 and 4-6-4 in the MIAC, sitting in seventh place now as the Royals have gone just 1-5-2 in MIAC play since the start of the new year. St. Olaf improved to 7-12-1 and 6-7-1 in the MIAC to jump ahead of the Royals and into sixth place, four points behind fifth place and the final playoff spot. The Royals will tangle with Gustavus Adolphus College next weekend.