BLAINE, Minn. – Bethel Women's Hockey closed out its home schedule in dominant fashion Friday night, defeating St. Olaf 5-2 on Senior Night at Bethel University Arena to keep its MIAC playoff hopes firmly alive.
The Royals came out with urgency and were rewarded early in the first period. Freshman Amelia McQuay opened the scoring at the 5:39 mark, finishing a play set up by Julia Helget to give Bethel a 1-0 lead. Just under two minutes later, sophomore Myla Lubken doubled the advantage at 7:31, again with Helget providing the assist, putting the Royals in control early.
After the visitors briefly cut into the lead, Bethel responded in the second period following a stretch where the game was tied. Freshman Olivia Martin broke the deadlock at 15:57, scoring her first collegiate goal off assists from Malia McKinnon and Sophie Martin to restore the Royals' lead. Just 1:09 later, Lubken struck again for her second goal of the night at 17:06, finishing a setup from Kallie Tibbetts (Abrahamson) to extend Bethel's advantage to two.
Bethel put the game away in the third period on the power play when freshman Sophie Martin scored at the 9:42 mark off McKinnon's second assist of the night, giving the Royals a 5-2 lead and sealing the victory.
The Royals finished with five goals from four different players and received multi-point efforts from Lubken, McKinnon, Helget, and Sophie Martin. Helget, one of Bethel's seniors, played a key role in setting the tone offensively from the blue line with two assists, while McKinnon added two assists of her own in a strong playmaking performance.
In net, senior goaltender Ashley Gustafson (Hess) earned the win, making 17 saves and providing steady play throughout the night. Her presence helped the Royals maintain their lead and control momentum as they pushed toward the finish.
The win moves Bethel to 13-9-2 overall and 7-8-2 in MIAC play as the Royals continue their push toward a postseason berth. Bethel will close out the regular season Saturday afternoon when it travels to Northfield to face St. Olaf in the series finale before MIAC playoff positions are finalized.
Along with the win, Bethel honored its senior class in a pregame ceremony, recognizing a group that has played an instrumental role in the program.
- Ashley Gustafson (Hess), a senior goaltender from Zimmerman, Minn., has been a cornerstone in net for the Royals, delivering key performances and providing leadership throughout her career.
- Julia Helget, a senior defender from Sleepy Eye, Minn., has anchored Bethel's defense and played a critical role in both defensive and offensive situations, including her two-assist performance Friday night.
- Maddi O'Connor, a senior forward from New Ulm, Minn., has been a steady presence throughout her career, contributing leadership, work ethic, and consistency to the Royals' lineup.
- Beth Vincent (Velasco), a senior forward from Minnetrista, Minn., has brought experience and commitment to the program and has played an important role in Bethel's team culture.
Together, this senior class has helped lead Bethel through important moments and leaves behind a legacy that will continue to influence the program in the years ahead.
