MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team started its weekend off on a high note defeating No. 13th-ranked St. Thomas 3-1 Friday evening in the series opener. Michael Piehler had himself quite a night picking up his second career multi-goal effort while also tallying an assist.

Capturing their first win over St. Thomas since Nov. 21, 2015 the Royals move to 2-3-1 on the year and pick up their first MIAC win to be 1-1-1. The two teams close out the series Saturday night inside Bethel University Arena. Puck drop comes at 7 p.m.

Piehler began his night putting Bethel on the board early scoring 38 seconds into the contest. Coming off a faceoff win from Jarrett Cammarata, Brandon Baker got his stick on the puck before finding Piehler for his first of the season.

Netminder Ridge Gerads picked up 16 saves before UST was able to get one past him with just under three minutes remaining before the break. He was lights out in net picking up a season-high 38 saves.

The Bethel special teams killed off a penalty midway through the second and were not successful on two power play opportunities for themselves.

Bethel only needed one more look than UST in the period taking a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. With 1:10 remaining Cammarata scored his second of the season with assists coming from Piehler and Dylan Giorgio.

Neither team did anything with its one power play in the third before Bethel sealed the deal with an empty net goal form Piehler in the closing seconds.