BLAINE, Minn. – Freshmen Nick Ketola's and Kade Brannon's multi-goal performance aided the Royals to a 7-1 series opening win against Hamline Friday evening at Bethel University Arena.

While the offense fired on all cylinders, the goaltending of Ridge Gerads was even better. Gerads picked up his first win as a Bethel Royal with 40 saves.

Bethel's opening goal came at 3:21 of the first period when Paul put in a rebound off a shot from Johan Kling from just inside the blue line.

Kling was not done there as just before going off the ice he fed Ketola who went coast to coast to slip one right through the five hole of Hamline goalie Sam Nelson. 

In the second period, Ketola worked with linemate Curtis Hansen to set up Charlie Haugen who scored his first collegiate goal to make it 3-0. The firsts kept coming for the Royals as Kade Brannon scored his first of the season at the 11:06 mark with assists from Jay Paul and Randy Wolf.

Already with a pair of assists, Kling decided to join the goal scoring fun with his first of the season as Austin Langworth collected his fourth assist of the year. For good measure, Ketola second his second of the night 41 seconds later to send the Royals into the second intermission with a six goal lead.

Hamline found an answer to Bethel's six goals 59 seconds into the third. With a Royals penalty about to expire the Piper's Bailey Martin found the back of the net with Gerads on his side following a pair of beautiful pad saves.

The Royals weren't done scoring just yet capping off the offensive night with the two hottest players on the ice. Ketola once again was in sync with linemate Haugen with a feed from Hansen before finding Haugen for his second goal of the night.

BU and Hamline wrap up the series tomorrow night at TRIA Rink in St. Paul. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.