BLAINE, Minn. –– Bethel earned a 5–3 victory over Marian (WI) on Friday night, December 12 closing out the non-conference matchup with a strong third-period push. The Royals controlled the pace offensively, outshooting the Sabres 38–18, and capitalized on key opportunities late to secure the win.
Bethel opened the scoring midway through the first period when Sophie Martin found the back of the net at 6:42, finishing a play set up by Evie Sellner and Rylen Kissell. Marian responded later in the frame as Summer Mullin scored an unassisted goal to tie the game, but the Royals answered just 38 seconds later with Amelia McQuay's first goal of the night to take a 2–1 lead into the intermission.
The second period saw Marian even the score again early, as Piper Miller scored at the 3:18 mark to make it 2–2. Both teams settled into a defensive rhythm for the remainder of the period, with Bethel goaltender Ava Brennan and Marian's Jillian Traver turning aside chances to keep the game knotted heading into the third.
Bethel broke through early in the final period on the power play, with McQuay netting her second goal of the game at 6:40 off an assist from Kissell. Marian answered once more with a power-play goal from Miller at 12:28, setting up a tense finish with the score tied at 3–3. The Royals regained the lead at 14:45 when Maddi O'Connor scored the game-winning goal, and McQuay completed her hat trick with an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the 5–3 win.
McQuay led Bethel offensively with three goals, while O'Connor added a goal and an assist. Brennan picked up the win in net after stopping 15 shots, and the Royals finished the night with a 1-for-3 performance on the power play.
The Royals take break for the next few weeks with their next game not until January 3rd at home against UW-Eau Claire for a 2 p.m. puck drop.
