ST.JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict hockey team opens the 2018 portion of its conference schedule tonight when it kicks off a home-and-home series against Bethel with a 7:30 pm game at Dave Torrey Arena in St. Cloud. The teams will then have a one day break before meeting up again in Blaine on Jan. 13 for game two.
About Bethel
Bethel returned to action last weekend with two big wins over Concordia (Wis.) to snap the three-game losing streak they had entering the holiday break. The Royals enter this weekend with a 5-7-1 overall record, and a 1-4-1 conference mark. Five Royals scored goals in the teams' 6-3 win on Friday, while Lauren Topor made 24 saves to lead the team to a 2-1 victory on Saturday.
The Royals are lead offensively by sophomore Kaitlyn VanTassel who has amassed six goals and thirteen assists in the first half to the season, placing her fourth in the MIAC standings for point getters. Close behind is senior Wendy Roberts who has eight goals and seven assists. Senior goaltender Michelle Klimstra has carried a majority of the work for Bethel this season, starting six games for the Royals. Klimstra has a 2-4-0 overall record, 3.14 goals against average, and 138 saves.
Last Year
Saint Benedict and Bethel had two games of stiff competition, with Bethel winning the first matchup 4-1 at their home rink, and the teams skating to a 2-2 tie at Dave Torrey Arena. Four different Royals lit the lamp for Bethel to lift them over CSB, while Klimstra stopped thirty of CSB's 31 shots to ensure the victory.
Maddie Dockry opened the scoring in the tie, and Emma Johnson tied it up for the Royals with a power play goal with less than a minute remaining in regulation.
Who to Watch
Brigitte Miller leads the way offensively for CSB with three goals and three assists on the season.
Riley Schneider,
Courtney Conlin,
Shelby Schneider, and
Kennedy Hageness all have two goals on the season, each with at least one assist as well. Thirteen players have at least one goal on the season, and fourteen players have at least one point.
Julia Carle leads the way between the pipes, with 257 saves on the season, averaging just over 32 saves per game.
The Storyline
Saint Benedict is celebrating the return of head coach
Jennifer Kranz Crary who returned to the bench last weekend after missing the first half of the season while on maternity leave. CSB brought their "A" game last weekend for their coaches return, playing to two tight one-goal losses against UW-Stevens Point and Marian.
