BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel University women's hockey team opened their truncated 2021 season with a 1-0 victory over the visiting Falcons from Concordia University-Wisconsin. The Royals heavily outshot the Falcons, 43-13 with the lone goal of the game coming with 14 seconds remaining in the second period. Ally Halverson scored the Royals goal off a rebound of a Bri Stafne shot. Baleigh Shuck recorded her first career shutout in net for the Royals, making 13 saves.

The Royals held a sizable shot advantage in the first period, 16-4 and had one power play opportunity but came up empty. The second period was more of the same until Halverson was able to knock in the Royals first goal of the season with just 14 seconds remaining in the period. Bethel was able to thwart a pair of decent scoring chances the Falcons had in the third period, nearly adding an empty net goal of their own, before the clock struck zero, giving Bethel the 1-0 victory. 

The season opening victory was the fourth in the last five years for the Royals, avenging their lone loss in that stretch which came at the hands of the Falcons in 2018-19. CUW was playing the seventh game of their season as they fall to 2-5 overall. Bethel will be in action with a non-conference tilt with defending MIAC champion Gustavus Adolphus College on Tuesday, February 2nd at 7 p.m. in St. Peter, Minnesota.