St Cloud, Minn. – Sophomore forward Katie Cristan scored her second goal of the year, but the Blazer hockey team lost tonight, falling 1-3 at the hands of the Bethel Royals.
 
With the win the Blazers fall to 6-11-2 (5-8-2) and into a tie with St. Catherine for eighth place in the conference. The Royals improve to 11-8-3 (6-6-3 MIAC) and maintain their fifth place ranking in the conference standings.
 
Despite being outshot 12-3 and having to kill two penalties, the Blazer defense held the Royals scoreless in the first period.
 
The Blazers then skated out reenergized in the second period, and dominated possession of the puck. After a shot from junior forward Liz Hermes rang the pipe, the home team finally got a goal from Cristan, which gave them a 1-0 lead. First-year defender Alexis Klatt and first-year forward Kimberly Patterson assisted that goal.
 
Shortly after the Blazers took the lead however, the Royals scored the equalizer, and the teams were tied heading into the second intermission.
 
Bethel scored twice in the third period, while simultaneously shutting the Blazers out to win the game 3-1.
 
Key to the loss for the Blazers were five penalties which put them down a player for 10 minutes during the match. The Royals also held the Blazers to just 16 shots on goal, tied for their lowest total this season.
 
Blazer hockey returns to action tomorrow when they will travel to Blaine to play the Royals at their arena in the National Sports Center. Face-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.