ST. PAUL - The Bethel University women's hockey team put themselves into a win and in situation for Saturday's season finale with a 2-1 victory over the St. Catherine University Wildcats. Another Royals victory on Saturday will put Bethel into the MIAC Playoffs for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. The Royals made a second period Briita Nelson shorthanded score stand up as the game winner as Maggie Straka made 29 total saves in holding the Wildcats to just one first period score. 

Emma Johnson got the Royals on the board first with a goal at 14:09 of the first period. Kirsten Olson and Cali Pearcy assisted Johnson. The Wildcats where able to get the score back with just one second remaining in the first period. At 7:53 in the second period the Royals where sent to the box with a tripping penalty but Briita Nelson was able to strip a Wildcats defender and race off on a breakaway, converting the score to give Bethel the lead. Thanks to several spectacular saves by Straka, Nelson's score proved to be the game winner for the Royals.

Bethel improves to 6-9-2 in the MIAC as they remain tied with Saint Mary's University for the final spot in the MIAC Playoffs but the Royals will take the tiebreaker if the two remain tied after Saturday's action. SMU defeated St. Olaf by a 4-0 score Friday night. The Royals will host St. Kate's on Saturday in Bethel University Arena at 3 p.m. with senior day festivities to take place before the game. Five Royals will be playing in their final game at Bethel University Arena in Wendy Roberts, Briita Nelson, Maggie Straka, Michelle Klimstra and Natalie Simons.