BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team fought valiantly but fell to the No. 7-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College Gusties, 5-4. The loss moves the Royals to a MIAC record of 4-7-0 and 9-8-1 overall as they continue their playoff hunt.
How it Happened:
• The Gusties set an aggressive tone from the puck drop, scoring just 1:28 into the first period. But the Royals didn't balk at the early score. Four minutes later,
Myla Lubken snatched the puck away from a Gustavus attacker, skated it through the neutral zone, and got tripped up by a defender.
Abbie DeLong was there to scoop up the loose puck, maneuver around the Gustie goaltender, and knock in the Royals' first goal of the night.
• A penalty on
Emily Wiltse put the Royals on the penalty kill just after the 12-minute mark, and the Gusties nabbed their second goal of the night 35 seconds in.
• But, Wiltse evened the odds at 15:20, stealing the puck off the stick of a Gustie skater and walking it in for a top-shelf goal.
• The second period saw the Gusties push back harder against the persistent Royals as they notched two more goals at 2:34 and 7:16.
• Still, the Royals answered back on the power play in the 13th minute as
Siri Olson launched a shot from just inside the offensive zone.
Dylan Grilz deflected the puck in to make it 4-3, Gusties.
• The Gusties expanded their lead to 5-3 at 4:41 in the third period, but
Malia McKinnon spurred on a Royal response as she carried the puck up the right side and cut a quick pass across to DeLong, who fired a shot into the back of the Gustie net. 5-4, Gusties.
• But, the Gusties proved their position as the No. 7-ranked team, holding the Royals to just five shots in the third period and preventing them from finding the equalizing goal.
• BU goaltender
Anna Hanson put on a stellar performance to keep the Royals in the game with the Gusties as she faced 73 shots, 34 on net.
What's Next:
The Royals will head down to St. Peter, Minn., for the second matchup in the weekend series with the Gusties. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. in Lund Arena.
