St. Cloud, Minn. - The College of Saint Benedict hockey team (5-10-4 overall, 3-10-2 MIAC) began their two game series with the Bethel University Royals (12-8-2 overall, 9-4-2 MIAC) tonight at home and once again struck first. 12:21 into the first period the Blazers scored on a shot from Siri Berg-Moberg with assists from Megan Brettingen and Mara Kohl. This score of 1-0 was maintained throughout the rest of the period.

Shortly into the second, however, the Royals tied the game with a goal by Lindsay Burman. Kate Wahlin and Molly Eagles assisted her. The score remained tied until 1:29 into the third period where Caroline Kivisto scored putting the Royals up on top. The Royals never looked back from there.

The Royals scored again in the third putting them up 3-1 but the Blazers tried to mount a comeback with a goal from Alli O'Brien just past the halfway mark in the final period. The Blazers continued to shoot and maintain possession in the Bethel zone but Erika Allen proved to be too much.

With 5:30 left in the final period Biz Huss of the Royals took a breakaway down in front of the net only to be stonewalled by sophomore goalie Jenna Traut. This save kept the Blazers competitive in the remaining minutes and added to Traut's save total of 25. Her Royal counterpart, Allen, saved 14 of 16 shots on net.

The game proved to be a clean game for both teams as the referees only had to assess one penalty—a tripping call on Catherine Pollock that forced the Blazers to kill a penalty at the end of the second period and a few seconds into the third. The Blazers finished the day beating the Royals in the faceoff circle 24-22 but were outshot 16-28.

The Blazers will next play at 3 p.m. on Feb. 16^th as they travel to Arden Hills, Minn in search of evening up the series.