BLAINE, Minn. — The Bethel University women’s hockey team continued its four-game, out-of-conference homestand to begin the year Friday night. After a pair of 2-0 and 4-1 victories over Trine University, the Royals hosted the Nichols College Bison at Bethel University Arena.
Bethel got on the board first with a goal from junior forward Beth Velasco 3:40 into the opening period. The Royals continued to roll early on as senior wing Abbie DeLong appeared to grab a loose puck in the back of the net. Confusion ensued, and after the officials discussed the play it was determined that Bison goaltender AnaMary Pulgar covered the puck, and the play was blown dead.
Six minutes into the first the Royals’ offense took advantage of a Bison line change, with a Beth Velasco pass springing freshman forward Maddy Schuster loose in the neutral zone. Schuster beat the lone Bison defender, firing the puck on net past Pulgar for a 2-0 Royals lead.
The Royals’ penalty kill was forced to protect the slim 2-0 lead early in the second period on a Emily Wiltse tripping minor. The shorthanded Royals answered the call as the Bison managed just three shots. Bethel goaltender Anna Hanson turned each shot away.
The Royals’ penalty kill went 5/5 on the night, allowing just nine shots on goal. Bethel has allowed one goal in the kill all season, good for a 97.4 kill percentage.
Late in the second, senior center Kallie Abrahamson tallied her team-leading fifth goal of the season on a one-time feed from senior defense Dylan Grilz. The Royals led by three heading into the second intermission.
On their fifth penalty kill opportunity of the night, the Royals turned their man disadvantage into an offensive opportunity. Abrahamson created a turnover in her zone, catching the Bison on a change once more. This time she beat the lone Nichols defender with a nifty deke and put the finishing touch on a 4-0 Royals win.
Senior goaltender Anna Hanson stood tall in the net again, stopping 18 Bison shots en route to her third shutout of the year.
On Saturday the Royals closed out their out-of-conference slate with a commanding 7-0 victory over the Bison. Nichols managed just 10 shots on goal as the Royals earned their third shutout in four games to improve to 8-4-1 on the year.
The Royals have now won their first four contests to begin the 2025 portion of their schedule. They will return to MIAC play on the road against Augsburg University at 7 p.m. next Friday.
