Pipers fall to Bethel

For the first six goals of the game, Bethel and Hamline went back-and-forth on scoring, with the Royals striking first on a power play goal at 5:37 in the first period. Three minutes later, Piper first-year defenseman Chris Berenguer (Eden Prairie, Minn.) scored from near the blue line off of a pass from Austin Tavis (Fy., Grand Rapids, Minn.).

Bethel took a one-goal lead once again at 9:45 in the first, but the Pipers evened the score on a goal from another defenseman. This time it was junior co-captain Joe Long (Dayton, Minn.), who scored a power play goal at 12:56. Cory Krogen (So., Marshall, Minn.) and Andrew Birkholz (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) were credited with assists on the goal.

In the second period, the only goal scored was at 5:40 by Bethel on a break-away.

After returning to the ice following the intermission, trailing 3-2, Nick Zilka (Fy., Mound, Minn.) took to the ice from the bench when a Piper penalty ran out, joining the play in transition from the Royals' zone. He evened the score at 3-3 on assists from Dustin Postell (So., Wadena, Minn.) and Jared Hummel (Fy., Eagan, Minn.) at 1:43.

With the score tied at 3-3, Bethel scored the game-winner at 11:39, and then added a fifth goal at 14:49.

The Pipers drop to 10-5-3, 6-2-1 MIAC and fall to third in the conference, while the Royals improve to 12-5-2, 7-3-1 MIAC and remain in first place. The same two teams meet again tomorrow, Saturday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Bethel.