BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team secured its fifth straight season-opening victory in a decisive 5-2 victory over Marian University Friday evening in Bethel University Arena.
Junior forward
Ben Doherty tallied his first collegiate multi-goal game putting the Royals on the board in the first and adding an empty netter in the final minute.
How It Happened:
• Though Marian struck first, scoring 2:14 into the first period, the Royals responded just six minutes later as Doherty–assisted by
Sam Wilhite and
Jake Herter–flicked the puck past the Sabre goalie.
• The Sabres hit first again in the second period, finding the back of the Royal just over midway through.
• But the Royals responded two minutes later as
Tyler Braccini buried the puck in the lower right corner of the Sabre goal off a pass from
Justin Kelley, tying the score at two.
• Bethel's penalty kill picked up right where it left off last season, third-best in the nation to be exact, fending off two Marin power plays in the second, its only man advantages of the game.
• Just barely into the third period, the Royals set the tone for the rest of the game. At 3:09,
Jack Brown netted the third BU goal of the night in a scuffle in front of the net.
• The sophomore transfer from Long Island, Tyler Koztelecky pushed the lead to 4-2 with his first collegiate and BU goal at the 13:34 mark. Koztelecky skated through two defenders, sending the puck ricocheting off of the far post and into the back of the net.
• Doherty sealed the deal for the Royals in the the final minute of the third period, scoring his sixth career goal on an empty net.
• The Sabres offense pummeled Royal goalie
Austin Ryman throughout the game, putting up 33 shots to the Royals' 21, but Ryman came away with 31 saves and a 93.3 save percentage to ensure the victory.
What's Next
The Royals return to home ice at the Blaine Super Rink tomorrow, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. when they take on St. Norbert College.
