BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel University women's hockey team gave a relentless effort Friday night in coming from behind to defeat the Saint Mary's University Cardinals 4-3 in overtime. The Royals found themselves down 2-0 midway through the second period before battling back to tie it up at 2-2. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead at 3-2 but the Royals again answered with the game tying goal and the game winner just 17 seconds into overtime. 

Alex Belde scored the Royals first goal at 11:49 in the second period to make the score 2-1 entering the final period. Ally Halverson was able to tie it up at 2-2 just 4:42 into the third. The Cardinals took the lead back less than two minutes later but the Royals were just getting started. Lindsay Albers tied the game at 3-3 with a goal at 10:29 and the game remained that way throughout the rest of the third period. The Royals and Julia McAlpin needed just 17 seconds into the overtime period to net the game winning goal. Emily Roder assisted on the game winner. Mallory Tidona, one of five Bethel seniors that were honored pregame, made seven saves in each of the three periods to earn the win in net for the Royals. BU outshot SMU 28-24 in the game.

The win moves BU to 7-10-1 overall and 5-6-1 in the MIAC while Saint Mary's drops to 12-9-1 and 9-5-1. The series and regular season finale will take place Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Winona, Minnesota.