Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Bethel scored three unanswered goals to top Saint John's 4-1 on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

Tyler Braccini gave the Royals (4-5-1, 2-1-0 MIAC) a quick 1-0 lead with his team-leading seventh goal of the season, a wrister from the left faceoff circle, on the visitors' first shot attempt 1:33 into the game.

Sophomore forward Logan Lyke (Medina, Minn.) tied the game at 1-1 for SJU (5-3, 3-2 MIAC) with his third goal of the season five minutes in. Senior forward Justin Thompson (Woodbury, Minn.) ripped a shot in the slot off the BU goaltender, and off the pipe, to Lyke on the left side of the net.

BU gained a 3-1 lead with two goals in the second period. Jack Brown unleashed a sharp-angle shot near the end line that hit off the net and trickled over the crossbar off junior goaltender Jon Howe's (Chanhassen, Minn.) back and into the net 8:52 into the frame.

Max Hamstad gave the Royals a two-goal cushion with a 2-on-1 goal, his first of the season, with 1:08 remaining in the second and Shane Lavelle ended the scoring with 5:07 left in the game.

Howe made 30 saves in the loss, his first of the season (3-1 record), as SJU posted a 37-34 advantage in shots. 

The two teams wrap up the series at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Super Rink in Blaine.