St. Cloud, Minn. -- Senior goalie Dory Johnson stopped 30 of 32 shots, but the College of Saint Benedict hockey team lost to the Bethel Royals today by a 1-2 score.

With the win, the Blazers drop to 5-11-1 (3-6-1 MIAC) and fall to eighth in the MIAC. The Royals improve to 8-7-2 (6-2-2 MIAC) and remain in fourth in the MIAC as of Saturday afternoon.

The Blazers took the lead midway through the first period. First-year defender Kylie Eklund had the puck at the top of the zone and sent a pass to the front of the net, where sophomore forward Kimberly Patterson quickly turned around and sent the puck past Royal goalie Maggie Straka. That goal was Patterson's first of the year. The assist was Ecklund's first point as a Blazer.

In a whirlwind second period, the Royals scored two goals to take a 2-1 lead which they would never relinquish. A flurry of penalties left the teams playing 3-on-3 for nearly 30 seconds. After both teams mounted offensive opportunities as the penalties intermittently wore off, the Royals used a 4-3 advantage to even the score at 1-1. Royal forward Sarina Goos scored unassisted.

Four minutes later, Royal forward Erika Geary scored the gamewinner for the Royals. That goal was unassisted as well, and sent the Blazers into the second intermission down by one goal.

The Blazer offense came charging out in the third period, outshooting the Royals 14-7 in the period. Despite a power play and a couple shots that nearly resulted in goals, the Blazers were unable to even the score, and lost the game 2-1.

Both teams were even at 32 shots apiece, and the Royals won the faceoff margin 30-to-26.

Blazer hockey will return to action next weekend, when they will take on St. Thomas in a weekend home-away series. The puck is scheduled to drop 7 p.m. on Friday night in St. Paul.