Men's Hockey 1/20/06 -- Bethel 7, Augsburg 3

BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (1/20/06) -- Brad Peterson (Fr., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) scored a three-goal hat trick, while teammate Steve Eastman (So., Edina, Minn.) had a two-goal night, leading Bethel University to a 7-3 victory over host Augsburg College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's hockey game Friday night at the Augsburg Ice Arena.

Bethel (3-11-0 overall, 1-4-0 MIAC) outshot Augsburg 39-18 in the contest, scoring five unanswered goals in the second and third periods to claim the victory, breaking a five-game losing streak in the process. Augsburg is now 6-7-3 overall, 2-2-3 in MIAC play.

The teams finish the MIAC series on Saturday (1/21) at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Arena in Fridley, Minn.

Neal Carlson (Jr., Roseville, Minn.) and Jon Kramer (Jr., St. Paul, Minn./Como Park HS) had two assists apiece for the Royals, while Fletcher Emerson (Fr., Coon Rapids, Minn.) and Jeff Balvin (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) had the other Royal goals.

Bethel jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first 4:08 of play on goals from Eastman and Peterson. But Augsburg tied the game with two power-play goals in a 1:57 span midway through the frame, on goals from Joe Haehn (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS) and Critter Nagurski * (Jr., International Falls, Minn.). Aaron Johnson * (Jr., Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) and Danny Carlson (So., Roseville, Minn.) assisted on both goals.

But the Royals scored four goals in the second period to take a commanding lead. Peterson scored twice, with Emerson and Balvin adding goals. Eastman added a power-play goal at the 8:07 mark of the third period to finish the Bethel scoring.

Kyle Thompson (Fr., Surrey, B.C./Enver Creek HS) capped the Augsburg scoring with a power-play goal from Kellen Chamblee (Fr., Falcon Heights, Minn./Roseville HS) and Colby Nichol (Fr., Grande Prairie, Alberta/Grande Prairie Composite HS) at the 14:48 mark of the final frame.

Augsburg went 3-for-5 on the power play, while Bethel went 1-for-5.

Dustin Thompson (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) made 15 saves for Bethel. Tony Ciro (Sr., Spring Lake Park, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) made 21 saves for the Auggies, before being relieved by David Nash (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) in the second period. Nash made 11 saves.