ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team used a pair of third period goals in under a two-minute span to come back and win their fourth straight game to open 2019, 2-1 over the College of Saint Benedict. The offensive output was the lowest in the four game winning streak but thanks to great goaltending once again the two goals were enough to give the Royals the MIAC sweep. Emily Auge stopped 29 of the 30 shots she faced as CSB outshot Bethel for the second straight night but were unable to score at the same rate as the Royals.
 
Saint Ben's scored the games first goal to go up 1-0 in the first five minutes of the first period. That lead held up until 6:29 in the third period when Courtney Johnson finally got the Royals on the board with assists from Bri Stafne and Bailey Thompson. Just a minute and a half later Kennedi Mitchell completed the comeback for Bethel, scoring the eventual game-winner off assists from Erika Geary and Emma Ness.
 
Bethel's sweep of CSB gives them a 4-0 record to start 2019 after recording just one win in the 2018 portion of the schedule. The Royals are now 5-8-1 overall and 2-5-1 in the MIAC. Bethel has moved within four points (two points awarded for a win, one for a tie) of the fifth spot in the MIAC standings. The top five make the MIAC playoffs. Saint Ben's dropped to 5-7-3 overall and 2-5-1 as well in the MIAC. The Royals will take league leading, undefeated and No. 4-ranked St. Thomas next weekend. The Tommies will host the Royals at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights and the Royals will welcome the Tommies to Bethel University Arena on Saturday afternoon.