SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team used a five goal second period to take down Bethel 6-1 Friday. With the win the Gusties move to 11-10-3 overall and 7-6-2 in the MIAC, while the Royals fall to 6-14-4 overall and 5-6-4 in the conference. Gustavus also clinched a playoff spot with the win as Saint Mary’s fell to Saint John’s.
The Gusties got off to a quick start scoring less than three minutes into the contest. Gustavus used a combination of passes with Caleb Anderson (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) finding J.P. Eykyn (Jr., Waseca) who faked out the goalie to put Gustavus up 1-0. The Black and Gold kept up their solid play, controlling much of the period and looked like they would hold a lead heading into the first intermission. Bethel however, would get a shot off that would sneak in the net with less than a second remaining in the period to even things up headed into the break.
With the Royals carrying momentum into the second, Gustavus quickly put an end to it. They dominated from the opening puck drop of the period, notching three goals in the first 3:24 of play. Logan Norman (Jr., Luverne), Dylan Gast (So., Dellwood), and Connor Clemons (So., Savage) all put up scores in the short span to put the Gusties ahead 4-1. Tyler Ebner (So., La Crosse, Wis.) then took things into his own hands with a pair of unassisted scores at 7:28 and 15:13 to put the Gusties up 6-1 after two periods.
The two teams played a scoreless third period as Robbie Goor (Jr., Anoka) saved all 11 shots Bethel put on net to secure the 6-1 victory. He saved 22 shots in the contest while just allowing the one goal.
Gustavus and Bethel will be back at it tomorrow from Blaine for a 7 p.m. contest.