BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel women's hockey team dropped the back end of the weekend series against Saint Mary's, losing by the same score by which they'd won the night before, 3-1.
The loss sets the Royals back and they continue their hunt for a postseason run, moving them to a record of 5-9-0 in the MIAC and 10-10-1 overall.
Prior to the game, the Royals honored nine seniors for their time and dedication to the program.
How It Happened:
• The Cardinals earned a slight edge in the first period, outshooting the Royals 10-7, but 20 minutes of tense play passed without a goal for either team.
• The Cardinals hit their stride in the second period, though, when a power-play goal at 5:45 ignited their offense. They scored again at 8:43 and 12:31 to improve to a 3-0 lead over the Royals.
• The Royals fought hard to close the gap created in the second period, but were unable to chip away at it.
Sydney Eckert tapped in a loose puck in front of the Cardinals' net with just three seconds to go in the game to keep the Royals from a shutout, but the Cardinals' substantial second-period lead allowed them to walk away with the 3-1 win.
What's Next:
The Royals will continue with MIAC play next weekend as they head up to Concordia in Moorhead, Minn. The Cobbers sit just below the Royals in the MIAC standings, making this series another critical matchup for BU in their playoff bid. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. next Friday, Feb. 14, at the Cullen Hockey Center.
