WINONA, Minn. - The Bethel University women's hockey team traveled to Winona, Minnesota Friday night and came away with a 3-2 win over the Saint Mary's University Cardinals. Bethel's Courtney Johnston scored 3:57 into overtime to give the Royals the MIAC series opening victory. Bethel outshot Saint Mary's 28-21 in the game.

SMU scored the games first goal 7:20 in to take an early lead. The Royals responded with two scores in the final minutes of the first period to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Bri Stafne scored unassisted unassisted followed by Kaylyn Forliti off an assist from Grace Halvorson. The Cardinals were able to tie things back up with a power play score at 6:44 in the second. The power play goal was just the fifth allowed by the Royals in 55 chances this season. It would be the last score of the game until Johnston's winner in OT. Halvorson and Forliti assisted Johnston on the score for Bethel. Mallory Tidona made 19 saves to pick up the win in the net.

The Royals return home Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. contest with the Cardinals. Bethel now stands at 5-11 overall and 3-6 in the MIAC while SMU is 5-9-2 and 2-6-1.