ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College men's hockey team battled the Bethel University Royals on the road Friday night. The Gusties rallied from a 3-1 deficit early in the second period to take a 7-4 victory over the Royals for their 10
th win in a row, improving to 12-5-1 overall.
The win tied Gustavus with Bethel atop the MIAC standings at 19 points each, with the Gusties currently holding a lead for the No. 1 playoff seed due to their 7-2 MIAC record to the Royal's 6-3 record in the conference.
Bethel jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals midway through the first period, but
Grant Ellings cut their lead in half in the final two minutes of the opening frame, scoring his sixth goal of the season with assists from
Jackson McCarthy and
Emil Samuelsson.
The Royals went up 3-1 four minutes into the second period, but Ellings answered back for Gustavus just 34 seconds later with another goal; his second of the game and seventh of the season. This sparked a 3-0 run for the Gusties as
Jayar Luedke tied the game at 3-3 less than two minutes later with his third goal of the season and
Nate Stone gave Gustavus a 4-3 lead with his sixth goal this winter just 33 seconds after that. Bethel tied the game up at 4-4 midway through the second frame but McCarthy put the Gusties back on top up 5-4 in the 16
th minute of the period, scoring his second goal of the season.
Gustavus held their one-goal lead with a tremendous defensive effort in the third period until
Christian Miller gave the Gusties some breathing room in the final four minutes of the game with his second goal of the season.
Nick Blood scored an empty netter in the final minute to put the cap on a 7-4 victory for Gustavus.
Ellings led the Gusties with two goals and an assist in the game. Blood notched three points as well with a goal and two assists. McCarthy had two points with a goal and assist.
Drew Holt had two assists in the win.
Marko Belak earned his seventh win of the season in goal for the Gusties, saving 42 shots on goal.
Up next for the Gusties is game two of their weekend series against the Royals as Gustavus returns home to Saint Peter to host Bethel on Saturday, January 31 at 5:00 p.m. at the Don Roberts Ice Rink.
