HAMLINE BEATS BETHEL IN WOMEN'S HOCKEY

A one-goal first period exploded to a final score of 5-2 as the visiting Bethel Royals defeated the Hamline University women’s hockey team in St. Paul on Friday night.

The first period of play saw just one goal put on the scoreboard, as Hamline’s Jessica Kraus (Fy., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) scored at 10:34. Erin Kastner (Fy., Fairbault, Minn.) and Jenna Scattarelli (Fy., Elk River, Minn.) earned the assists on the goal.

The second period also lacked scoring until over halfway through the period, and then saw four more scores added to the board in less than nine minutes. Bethel tied up the game at 11:19 as Olivia Paulseth (Fy., Duluth, Minn.) scored on the power play at 11:19 from Bethany Murphy-Aultman (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.).

The Royals then took their first lead of the game just a minute later as Paige Lemieux (Fy., Fargo, N.D.) put the puck in the net from Allison Papko (So., Winnipeg, Manitoba).

Hamline evened the score at 2-2, as Shannon Griswold (Jr., Portland, Ore.) lit the lamp at 15:23. Brianna Miller (Sr., Woodbury, Minn.) was credited with the assist.

The score stayed tied until 18:40 in the second when Sandra Felten (Sr, Cashton, Wis.) put the visiting Royals up, 3-2, on a power play score. Rachael Geng (Fy., South St. Paul, Minn.) and Anna Carlson (Fy., Roseville, Minn.) earned the assists on the goal.

Bethel went up 4-2 at 2:56 in the third when Kassy Sullivan (So., Roseville, Minn.) scored on a Papko’s second assist of the game. They scored their fifth and final goal of the game on a power play at 15:31 when Kelsea Martalock (So,. Tomah, Wis.) put the puck in the net. Murphy-Aultman and Paulseth were credited with the assists.

Hamline’s record is now 6-9-1, 2-6-1 MIAC with the conference loss. The Royals move to 6-6-3, 5-2-2 MIAC. The puck will drop between these same two teams in the second game of the series tomorrow, Saturday, January 24, at Bethel’s home rink in Blaine at 3:00 p.m.