NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Visiting Bethel University scored twice in each of the first two periods on its way to handing the St. Olaf College women's hockey team a 4-0 defeat in the series opener between the two teams on Friday evening at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

Emily Roder and Courtney Johnson netted goals in the opening period before Bailey Thompson and Bri Stafne got on the scoresheet in the second for Bethel (7-13-0, 5-8-0 MIAC). Mallory Tidona made 14 saves for the Royals to keep St. Olaf (0-18-2, 0-13-0 MIAC) off the board.

Roder gave Bethel an early 1-0 lead when she scored off a centering pass from Annika Swanson on a 2-on-1 rush at 2:53 of the opening period. Later in the period, Johnston doubled the visitors' lead, firing a shot through traffic from the right side inside the left post at 16:05.

After Bailey Thompson squeezed the puck in from close range at 6:42 of the second to make it 3-0, Stafne redirected a Sydnee Hanson shot in at 17:40 of the period to close out the scoring. Stafne's goal capped a three-point night after she assisted on Bethel's second and third goals.

St. Olaf generated two clear scoring chances in the second period, but Tidona produced a save to deny junior Emma Boyer on a 2-on-1 rush and another after sophomore Annika Patterson drove to the net to keep her shutout in tact.

The Oles generated seven shots on goal in the final 20 minutes and held the Royals to nine but were unable to find a way past Tidona. Sophomore Ivy Shonka recorded 15 saves for St. Olaf, while first year Taylor Smith and sophomore Grace Boswell-Healey combined for 14 stops.

The same two teams wrap up their series on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. at Bethel University Arena at the National Sports Center in Blaine.