Men's Hockey 1/28/05 -- Bethel 2, Augsburg 1

BOXSCORE

FRIDLEY, Minn. (1/28/05) -- Josiah Matuszewski and Jon Kramer scored second-period goals for Bethel University, breaking a scoreless tie and giving the host Royals a 2-1 win over Augsburg College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's hockey contest Friday night at the Columbia Arena.

Dustin Thompson made 36 saves for Bethel, allowing just a third-period unassisted goal from Augsburg's Critter Nagurski (So., International Falls, Minn.), as Bethel improved to 11-5-0 overall, 4-3-0 in MIAC play.

Augsburg was outshot by a 48-37 margin in falling to 6-7-5 overall, 3-3-3 in MIAC play. Augsburg is now winless in its last five games, with three ties and two losses in the stretch.

Matuszewski put the Royals on the board first with a goal from Brian Saintey at the 3:38 mark of the second period, followed by a Kramer goal from Kris Birch at the 14:12 mark.

Nagurski scored his team-high 10th goal of the season on an unassisted tally at the 3:52 mark of the third period. Augsburg outshot Bethel by a 14-8 margin in the third period, but could not get another shot past Thompson, who improved to 9-5-0 on the season.

Augsburg's Tony Ciro (Jr., Spring Lake Park, Minn./Hill-Murray HS), this past week's MIAC Player of the Week, made 46 saves in a losing effort.

The teams complete the MIAC series on Saturday (1/29) at 7 p.m. at the Augsburg Ice Arena in Minneapolis.