SUPERIOR, Wis. – In its return to the ice following a three week break from competition, the Bethel University men's hockey team fell to Marian 5-2 in the Superior Holiday Tournament opener.

The Royals (3-7-2) now wait to face the loser of the Tufts and UW-Superior matchup. Puck drop comes at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Marian (8-4-0) tested netminder Ridge Gerads early before breaking through on the scoreboard with nearly five minutes left. The Sabres went on the power play immediately after the goal as Johan Kling picked up a hooking minor. Marin extended its lead 39 seconds into the man advantage.

An early penalty in the second doomed the Royals again with Marian only needing 33 seconds to light up the lamp. BU broke through a little over a minute later with Zak Albers scoring his first goal of the season and Blake Nelson capturing his first collegiate assist.

The teams traded off goals the rest of the way where Josiah Roen scored his team-leading fifth goal of the year at the 11:15 mark in the second. Picking up an assist was Curtis Hansen.