BLAINE, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team lost 5-4 at Bethel on Friday night, dropping to 3-5-1 overall and 1-3-1 in the MIAC.
The Gusties found themselves playing from behind all night as the Royals scored the first goal and never trailed. Bethel scored its first goal at the 4:34 mark of the first period before the Gusties responded three minutes later with a score from Evan Erickson (Sr., Woodbury, Minn.). The Royals took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission after scoring an extra attacker goal with 37 seconds remaining in the frame.
Bethel gained a 3-1 advantage 13:10 into the second period with a short-handed goal and then extended its lead to 4-1 on a power play with 56 seconds left in the period. The Gusties took back some momentum to end the period as Reid Brown (Jr., Superior, Colo.) scored with just 14 seconds on the clock to make it a two-goal game.
Gustavus used that momentum early in the third as Jared Bromberg (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) made it a one-score game 3:28 into the period, but the home team answered four minutes later to regain a two-goal advantage. The Gusties didn’t give up though, responding 47 seconds later on a goal by Axel Hallin (Jr., Hovas, Sweden).
Gustavus outshot Bethel 9-4 for the remainder of the game and had a 6-4 skater advantage with an extra attacker and a power play for the last 1:32 of regulation, but couldn’t net the equalizer and the Royals escaped with the slim victory.
Shots were even at 32-32. The Gusties went 0-3 on the power play, while the Royals were 2-6. Chris Amsden (Sr., Saint Peter, Minn.) suffered the loss after making 27 saves.
Gustavus and Bethel conclude the series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Don Roberts Ice Rink.