BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel University women's hockey team engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth affair with the St. Catherine University Wildcats in a game that was scoreless until less than a minute into overtime, when Briita Nelson scored the games lone goal to give the Royals the 1-0 victory. The win vaults Bethel into the MIAC Playoffs for the seventh time in the past eight seasons as they will be the No. 5 seed and will travel to No. 4 seed Concordia College for a Thursday night matchup. 

The Royals and Wildcats saw multiple scoring chances throughout the game turned away by outstanding goaltending from both teams as senior Maggie Straka made 24 saves for Bethel to record the shutout in her final appearance at Bethel University Arena. SCU's Kristen Pechacek made 35 saves for the Wildcats but the 36th shot by the Royals proved to be the difference. The game featured playoff type intensity and saw some physical play with a total of 10 penalties in the game but neither team was able to take advantage of multiple power play opportunities with a score. Bethel was 0 for 5 and St. Kate's was 0 for 4 despite multiple shots throughout. 

Nelson's game winner came just 33 seconds into the overtime period and was assisted by Kaitlyn VanTassel. For Nelson, playing in her final home game, the game winner was the second in a row as she also scored Friday night's game winning goal on a shorthanded breakaway in the second period to give Bethel a 2-1 win.

The Royals finish the regular season at 11-12-2 overall and 7-9-2 in the MIAC. Bethel finished alone in sixth place, just one point behind fifth place Concordia who tied both of their games this weekend with fourth place Augsburg. All five teams in the MIAC playoffs bump up a spot for seeding purposes as regular season champion St. Thomas has a self imposed postseason ban for this year and will not compete. The Royals beat and tied the Cobbers early in the season in their series that was held at Bethel University Arena. The winner of the Thursday night contest in Moorhead will then face No. 1 seeded Gustavus on Saturday in St. Peter, Minnesota.