DULUTH, Minn. – A 2-1 overtime victory gave the Bethel men's hockey team a weekend sweep of the No. 10th-ranked St. Scholastica.
The win brings the Royals to a MIAC record of 9-3-2 and 15-5-3 overall. The additional two points cushion the Royals' lead atop the MIAC standings as they sit four points ahead of the second-place Augsburg and eight points ahead of the Saints.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• In contrast to the Royals' dynamic start last night, the Saints earned an early edge in shots on goal, outshooting the Royals, 12-5. The Royals pushed back in the second period, narrowly outshooting the Saints, 11-10, but neither team was able to find a goal in the first two periods.
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Braeden Bartoo's intense effort throughout the game made waves in the third period when he forced the puck across the goal line on a rebound from
Tyler Kostelecky's shot, giving the Royals the lead.
• The Saints however wouldn't go down a second time without a fight, and managed to tack on a goal of their own with over four minutes left of play.
• The final tense minutes drained away as each team jockeyed for a goal that neither could find, heading into the 3-on-3 overtime.
• Kostelecky reminded the MIAC of his top-ranked status as a goal-scorer with just over a minute of overtime left when he outmaneuvered two Saints players and flicked the puck off of his backhand for the game-winning goal.
UP NEXT
The Royals will enjoy a weekend off but pick up MIAC play in the final weekend of the regular season on Friday, Feb. 16 in a matchup against Hamline in Blaine. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
