St. Cloud, Minn. – The Saint Benedict hockey team could only hold down the conference's highest scoring offense for so long, falling 5-1 to Bethel today (Feb. 15).
 
A night after allowing just one goal to the Royals (16-5-2, 12-4-0 MIAC), the Blazers saw them open up for two in each of the first two periods, as Bethel scored at least four goals for the fifth time in their last eight games.
 
A furious first period saw a combined 26 shots on goal, which included 16 from the Blazers (7-16-0, 4-12-0 MIAC) as they held the edge in shots 16-to-10. Playing on senior day, senior Christine Brodersen led the offensive charge with three from her spot in the blue line, part of her team-high four in the game.
 
But it was the Royals who came out on top, scoring in the seventh minute to go ahead, while they got the eventual game winner less than five minutes later.
 
CSB was held to just four shots in the second, as the Royals got to Blazer goaltender Kaitlyn Rolando for two more, which included the games fourth goal in the final minute of the period to take a 4-0 lead into the second intermission.
 
Early in the third, the Blazers' Liz Hermes scored her second of the season to get the Blazers on the board, but it proved to be too little too late as the Royals skated to the win.
 
All six of the game's goals were at even strength, with the Blazer penalty kill coming up big for the second straight game, killing of five Royal opportunities, while allowing just four total shots. In three of their power plays, the Royals were held without a single shot.
 
The Blazers will close out the season next weekend, hosting now MIAC-leading St. Thomas, as they moved into a tie with Gustavus after the Tommies beat the Gusties today.
 
The home-and-home series starts in St. Cloud, with the Blazers hosting the Tommies at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21, before the season finale at 2 p.m., Feb. 22 in St. Paul.