BLAINE, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's hockey team entered its two-game series against Bethel needing one win to guarantee a home game to open the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they will head into Saturday's rematch with Bethel still needing that win.
Bethel scored the game's final two goals — including the game-winner 17 seconds into overtime — as the Royals dealt the Cardinals a 4-3 setback Friday evening at Bethel Arena.
Jordan Modjeski (South Lyon, Mich.) got things rolling for the Cardinals, as the senior netted her first of the season — an unassisted tally — five minutes into the opening period.
The Cardinals would maintain that one-goal advantage until the midway point of the second period, when
Morgan Leib (Farmington Hills, Mich.) found the back of the net for the fourth time this season to push SMU's lead to 2-0.
The two-goal advantage did not last long, however, as Bethel got on the board just 1:31 after Leib's goal, when Alex Belde beat SMU goalie
Ary Ziakas (Palatine, Ill.) to get BU back within one, 2-1.
Bethel got the equalizer at 4:42 of the third period on a goal by Ally Halverson, but Saint Mary's quickly answered, as
Anna Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) delivered her third goal of the season to put Saint Mary's back in front, 3-2.
From there, however, it was all Bethel.
Lindsey Albers made it a 3-3 game midway through the third period — and with neither team able to break the deadlock over the final 10 minutes, the game headed to overtime.
An overtime period that lasted just 17 seconds, as Julia McAlpin beat Ziakas with the game-winner and the 4-3 victory.
Ziakas finished with 24 saves in goal for the Cardinals, while BU goalie Mallory Tidona kicked out 21 of Saint Mary's 24 shots.
The Cardinals (9-5-1 MIAC, 12-9-1 overall) and Royals will square off again Saturday, afternoon, when the two teams head to the Saint Mary's Ice Arena for a 4 p.m. rematch in their two-game conference series.
