MOORHEAD, Minn – Bethel Men's Hockey battled through a tight defensive contest Saturday afternoon at Concordia College (Minn.), emerging with a hard‑fought 2‑1 victory to secure a key road win in MIAC play. After a scoreless first period, the Royals broke through in the second when senior
Tyler Braccini found the back of the net at 10:07, converting sustained pressure deep in the offensive zone to give Bethel the lead. Concordia answered early in the third with a power‑play tally to knot the game at one, but Bethel remained resilient. With just under two minutes left in the final period, senior
Tyler Kostelecky delivered the game‑winning goal at 18:46, finishing a strong forecheck and sending the Royals' bench into celebration.
Behind that clutch scoring, senior goaltender Marco Duronio was sharp in net, making key stops throughout the afternoon and preserving the narrow advantage. Bethel's commitment to detail in its own end and its ability to capitalize in timely moments were defining factors in the win. The Royals' disciplined play against a hungry Concordia squad demonstrated a physical and strategic edge that helped tilt the game in Bethel's favor.
With the weekend sweep, Bethel earns six key MIAC pionts to improve its position in the standings. Bethel's 8‑6‑0 league mark with 26 points reflects a stretch of tightly contested games where every point carries significant weight with the postseason approaching.
Looking ahead, Bethel concludes the regular season's final series next weekend against St. Olaf College, with games Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m. at St. Olaf Ice Arena and Bethel University Arena, respectively. Those matchups represent critical opportunities to solidify seeding heading into the MIAC Playoffs and continue building momentum as the Royals aim for a deep postseason run.
