MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg University women's hockey team defeated Bethel University in Tuesday, 4–3, in a tightly contested Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup. Augsburg, which is ranked No. 4 in the latest USCHO.com Division III national poll and No. 2 in the D-III Hockey News.com Division III national poll, secured the win with a decisive power-play goal by Tenley Stewart in the third period. The Auggies outshot Bethel 43–30, with Augsburg goalie Marissa Paaske making 27 saves to hold off the persistent visitors.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 4, Bethel 3
LOCATION: Ed Saugestad Rink, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 13-3-1 overall (7-2-1 MIAC), Bethel 8-7-2 overall (2-6-2 MIAC)

GAME RECAP
The game opened with Augsburg quickly taking control as Emma Abrahamson scored the first goal 50 seconds into the game, assisted by Ella Olson and Ruby Eskin. This early strike gave the Auggies the lead and set the tone for the period. Bethel University responded at 14:11 when Maddie Tinkle leveled the score with an assist from Myla Lubken. Throughout the rest of the period, both teams traded shots, but neither side could break the deadlock. Both goalies, Paaske for Augsburg and Ashley Gustafson Hess for Bethel, faced multiple shots throughout the period, keeping the score tied at 1-1.

Augsburg gained momentum early in the second period with a goal from Nora Stepan at 14:34, assisted by Jenna Allen, bringing the score to 2-1. With this goal, Stepan now has 10 goals on the season, leading the team in all three scoring categories -- 10 goals, 10 assists for 20 points. Despite numerous attempts on goal, Augsburg's offensive pressure was met with strong goaltending from the Royals. Bethel equalized with a goal by Rylen Kissell at 2:43, assisted by Sophie Martin, tying the game at 2-2. The period concluded with the score unchanged, setting up a tense final period.

Kate Haug's goal at 16:18, assisted by Aunna Schulte, put Augsburg ahead 3-2 early in the third period, marking Haug's eighth goal of the season. Despite a cross-checking penalty on Ruby Eskin shortly after, Augsburg successfully killed off Bethel's power play. Tenley Stewart extended Augsburg's lead to 4-2 with a power-play goal at 11:37, again assisted by Schulte. Schulte now boasts seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points this season, and has a goal and six assists for seven points in her last three games. Bethel managed a late goal with Malia McKinnon's extra attacker score at 00:43, but the Auggies maintained their lead to win the game.

AUGSBURG PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
• Tenley Stewart: 1 game-winning, power-play goal
• Emma Abrahamson: 1 goal, 6 shots on goal, 100% faceoff win percentage
• Aunna Schulte: 2 assists, 3 shots on goal
• Marissa Paaske: 27 saves

BETHEL PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
• Rylen Kissell: 1 goal, 3 shots on goal
• Maddie Tinkle: 1 goal
• Malia McKinnon: 1 goal, 68% faceoff win percentage, 3 shots on goal
• Ashley Gustafson Hess: 39 saves

UP NEXT
• In its next game, Augsburg will host St. Olaf College in the opener of an MIAC weekend series at Ed Saugestad Rink in Minneapolis on Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.