MOORHEAD, Minn. – Joe Westlund's hat trick and
Travis Allen's 43-save night led the Bethel men's hockey team to shootout victory over the Concordia Cobbers after the teams skated to a 4-4 tie in the series opener.
Gaining two points in the MIAC standings, the Royals remain tied for first with St. Scholastica after the Saints garnered a shootout win at St. Olaf. BU is now holds a MIAC record of 5-2-2 and 11-4-3 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Cobbers brought aggressive offense from the beginning, handily outshooting the Royals, 16-6, in the first period. But BU made its way onto the scoreboard first at 4:18 when
Joe Westlund buried the puck in the back of the Cobber net on the Royals' first shot of the game, assisted by a quick, short pass from
Jack Brown.
• Concordia started what would become a scoring pattern when they answered back with a power-play goal 12:02 into the period, tying the score at 1-1.
• Westlund struck again for his second goal of the night on the Royals' own power-play this time, tipping in a shot from
Ben Doherty at 13:22.
• Bethel was unable to hold the lead for even thirty seconds as the Cobbers shot back with another goal at 13:41 bringing the teams into the second period with a 2-2 draw.
• The Royals once again took the lead after a hard fought 15 minutes in the second period when
Tyler Kostelecky walked the puck in and ripped a nifty shot past the Cobber goaltender.
• Still, the Cobbers responded quickly, finding the equalizing goal at 16:55. Then, with just 28 seconds left in the second period, they took the lead for the first time in the game, 4-3.
• Westlund completed his hat trick and once again evened the score four minutes into the third period on a power play opportunity, sneaking the puck past the Cobber goaltender after a scuffle in front of the net.
• The teams skated to a scoreless five minute 3-on-3 overtime, each getting one shot on frame.
•
Jack Brown started out strong for the Royals, scoring first in the shootout. Allen came up big with a first save to give BU an edge, but Kostelecky couldn't find the back of the net with his opportunity, and the Cobbers managed to sneak one past Allen to tie it up.
• The fourth BU shooter,
Braeden Bartoo, gave the Royals the advantage again with a slick move and fast shot that buzzed past the Cobber goaltender. Allen made a critical save to seal the shootout victory for the Royals, earning them the extra point in MIAC play.
UP NEXT
The Royals return to the Moorhead Sports Center tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 20, for a second round with the Cobbers. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m.
