BLAINE, Minn. – First-year defenseman Connor Kalthoff scored his first collegiate goal for the St. Olaf College men's hockey team in a 4-1 conference loss to Bethel University on Saturday evening at Bethel University Arena.

Bethel (10-6-1, 3-4-1 MIAC) got goals from four different skaters and built a 3-0 lead before Kalthoff got St. Olaf (6-9-3, 3-4-1 MIAC) on the board with 2:18 remaining in the third period. With the win, the Royals pulled even with the Oles in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings and salvaged a split of the regular-season series.

Bethel scored goals inside the final two minutes of each of the first two periods to take a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes. Chad Wagner opened the scoring at 18:14 of the opening period, finding the back of the net from low in the left circle off an assist from Jarret Cammarata. Ben Doherty scored the lone goal of the second period with 1:40 remaining to double the Royals' lead at the second intermission.

Nick Ketola stretched Bethel's lead to 3-0 at the 12:30 mark of the third period before Kalthoff scored an extra-attacker goal off an assist from classmate Ethan Hersant at 17:42 to end the Royals' shutout bid. Hersant's assist was his eighth of the season, tying him with first year Tyler Cooper for second on the team.

The Royals tacked on an empty-net goal by Dylan Giorgio just 38 seconds after Kalthoff's tally to end any thought of a late comeback. Ridge Gerads picked up the win for Bethel with a 23-save evening, while sophomore Lukas Haugen suffered the loss despite making 28 saves for St. Olaf.

The Oles host Gustavus in a non-conference game on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. Fans must be on a pass list with one of the teams and must provide proof of vaccination upon entry to the game. St. Olaf faculty, staff, and students who are on campus for Interim may also attend.