ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team is off to its best start since at least the late 1980s with a 5-1 record six games into the season.  The Royals used a strong third period on Friday defeating Northland 5-1, before falling to No. 11th-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Saturday, 4-1.
 
The Royals had five different goal scorers in Friday's victory at Northland. Bethel went into the first intermission down 1-0 giving up a goal 2:43 into the contest. Carter Wagner found the equalizer in the second at 9:18.
 
A four-goal third period started with a power play goal from Jarrett Cammarata before Dylan Giorgio scored with the Royals shorthanded. Braeden Bartoo and Adam Bricker tallied BU's final two goals.
 
Saturday Bethel had a big task on its hands squaring off with the defending national champions from 2019. The Pointers took a 1-0 lead into the first break with a power play goal at the 7:55 mark. From that point on BU's penalty kill was strong fending off five other UWSP man advantages.
 
Bethel couldn't capitalize on its two power plays while Stevens Point lit up the lamp on three occasions in the second. With 15:57 remaining, Sam Wilhite tallied the Royals only goal with an assist from Carter Wagner.
 
BU kicks off a stretch of five straight MIAC games hosting Gustavus Adolphus this Friday at 7 p.m.