BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team won their third straight game and first in MIAC play with a 5-3 victory over the College of Saint Benedict. Freshman Kaylyn Forliti registered a hat trick for the Royals, scoring the first and last two Bethel goals of the night.
 
Forliti put Bethel ahead in the first period with a score at 8:57 off an assist from Sydnee Hanson. The Bennies would tie things up with just 57 seconds remaining in the first on a power play score. Bailey Thompson scored off an assist from Coutney Johnston right out of the intermission though to give Bethel the lead back at 2-1 just 34 seconds into the second period. CSB would tie the game up again later in the second with an even strength goal at 13:06. Bri Stafne kept her hot streak going as she scored her fourth goal in the last three games with 29 seconds remaining in the second period to give Bethel a 3-2 lead going into the second intermission. Thompson and Grace Halvorson assisted on Stafne's score. Forliti then pushed the Royals lead to 4-2 with a goal at 6:53 in the third. Sarina Goos and Kennedi Mitchell assisted. The Bennies were not done however as they scored to pull within one midway through the period at 4-3. CSB was searching for the equalizing goal but several big stops by Bethel goalie Mallory Tidona kept the Bennies at bay until Forliti was able to seal the deal for Bethel with her third goal of the night at 16:43. Ellen Seibel had the assist on the hat trick goal.   
 
Tidona was outstanding in net again for Bethel. One outing after posting her first career shutout she stopped 26 CSB shots, including 10 in the third period, to gather her second win on the season. Each team was called for just one penalty in the cleanly played game. CSB converted on their one power play opportunity while Bethel did not.
 
The win for the Royals marks their third straight to open the 2019 portion of the schedule and they improve to 4-8-1 overall and 1-5-1 in the MIAC. The Royals have scored 14 goals in their last three games marking just one less than the first 10 games of the season during 2018. Saint Ben's falls to 5-6-1 and 2-4-1 in the MIAC. The two teams will finish the series Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the MAC in St. Cloud, Minnesota.