Box Score ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The Bethel University women's hockey team fell on the road to the College of Saint Benedict by a 4-1 score in the MIAC season opener Thursday night. The Royals and Bennies were tied 1-1 well into the third period before CSB scored three goals in the last seven minutes, the last an empty netter. 

Saint Benedict scored the games first goal late in the first period, holding a 14-6 shot advantage in the first. The Royals responded in the second period by outshooting CSB 12-8 and Grace Halvorson scored at the 16 minute mark in the second to tie the game up at 1-1. Lexi DeBace and Megan Johnson assisted on Halvorson's goal. The game would stay tied at 1-1 until CSB took the lead back on an eventual game winner at 13:04 in the third period. The Bennies quickly tacked on another, just 55 seconds later to go up 3-1. The Royals were unable to cut the deficit as Saint Benedict scored another on an empty net with 50 seconds remaining. The Bennies held a 14-6 shot advantage in the third period. Neither team was able to score on the power play with Bethel being 0-2 and CSB 0-1. Mallory Tidona made 32 saves in net for the Royals.

The loss drops Bethel to 2-3 on the season and 0-1 in the MIAC. Saint Ben's improves to 2-3 and 1-0 in the MIAC. The two teams will conclude the series at Bethel University Arena on Friday night with a 7 p.m. puck drop.