BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel University men's hockey team put together a complete effort Saturday night, jumping out to an early lead and hanging on with solid defense and goaltending for a 3-2 victory over the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Bethel scored twice in the first period and once more in the second before UWRF tried to mount a comeback but Bethel's Joe Sheppard was outstanding in net making save after save to keep the Falcons from tying the game. In all Sheppard made 31 saves to give the Royals their first win at home on the year.

Bethel's first two goals came within just over a minute of each other late in the first period. Jackson Purvis scored the first goal with assists from Kurtis Redding and Tucker Gran. Michael Piehler scored the second one from David Becker and Riley Tilot. Justin Bonanno stretched Bethel's lead to 3-0 with a great effort to sling a loose puck around a defender and into the back of the net 5:47 into the second period. Jon Skarlis and Will Reedy were given the assists. The Falcons were able to get a score on a Bethel turnover with just a minute remaining in the second period to make it 3-1. Sheppard made several great saves throughout the third period to keep the Falcons at bay. UWRF's next score came at the beginning of a Bethel power play when the Falcons stole a pass and created a breakaway, converting to draw within one goal with 7:44 remaining in the game. The Falcons were unable to get another score however as the Royals thwarted their efforts to tie the game up.

The win over UWRF was the first for the Royals over the Falcons since the 2007 NCAA Playoffs when Bethel took the first round game by a 2-1 score. The Royals improved to 2-15 overall on the season while the Falcons fell to 6-10-2. Next weekend the Royals return to MIAC play with a series against the University of St. Thomas.