Penner’s Pen: Down to the wire

It’s getting real for most of the winter sports teams. It’s also been a while. Let’s check in with everyone.

Aiden Penner, Managing Editor • February 15, 2026

Rylen Kissell’s (Number 3) teammates mob her following her game-tying goal late in the third period of Friday’s 2-1 overtime win over Concordia College. With the win and another Saturday, the Royals placed themselves in fifth-place in the MIAC, clinging to a playoff spot with two games to go.

Wow, there are so many ways I can think of to start this one.

Yes, I’m back, despite the job title change. You know I’d never be able to keep my eyes and attention off Bethel sports.

Yes, I had a great Valentine’s Day, and I hope you did, too. Regardless of whether it’s romantic or not, I hope you spent time with people you love because that’s what it’s really about. Love is an important part of life, and it doesn’t always have to be the mushy-gushy, sitting-in-a-tree kind of stuff.

You guys really got me going with that, I guess. I won’t delay you any longer.

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Men’s basketball (11-13, 7-8): Two straight losses end postseason hopes

I was unfortunately unable to cover the bulk of the men’s basketball season while abroad in January, and it hurts that the first real chance I get is also essentially my last.

After suffering road defeats to the Hamline University Pipers Wednesday (79-83) and Carleton College Knights Saturday (72-81), the Bethel University men’s basketball team’s season has mathematically ended.

Six teams make the MIAC playoffs, and all six of those teams have clinched following sixth-place Augsburg University’s win Saturday. Augsburg has two more wins than the Royals, who have just one game left in their regular season.

Bethel head coach Gabe Miller breaks down a huddle during the Royals’ Dec. 20 game against the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Despite finishing his first year leading the Royals outside of the playoffs, Miller significantly improved the Royals for seasons to come. (Bennett Moger)

Despite this disappointing finish for the Royals, I can’t call the season a failure. Bethel, to date, matched its overall win total from last season and improved its conference win total. In his first year as head coach, Gabe Miller is doing a fine job resetting the team’s culture – arguably the most pivotal factor in last season’s collapse, which culminated in six still-eligible players leaving and Miller taking the reins.

As a result, it was clear there would be hiccups this season. New faces in the freshman class, transfers and coaching staff don’t immediately gel the way championship teams do.

But I’m trusting those improvements are taking place. There’s proof, too. This team has shown fight, regardless of the frustrations. It’s hard to picture last season’s team going to a second overtime against the University of Northwestern and pulling out a win, like this team did Monday.

Miller needs only to keep morale high, as he’s seemed to do all season, through the offseason, and I trust this team will look dangerous in 2027. Retaining the scoring core of redshirt junior guard Nick Burke (16.9 ppg), junior guard Blake Schmitz (15.2 ppg), junior guard Sam Gingras (11.2 ppg) and sophomore guard Jay Neubert (10.8 ppg) will help.

Now go find someone to hold down the paint.

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Women’s basketball (17-6, 12-4): Hamline stunner shakes up race for first

After Wednesday, it will take a miracle for the women’s basketball team to claim the regular season for its second consecutive season.

Hamline handed Bethel a debacle of a game Wednesday, ultimately taking a physical 59-53 win over the Royals. This game put the Royals two wins behind Concordia College for first place in the MIAC, now with two games left after the Royals stayed afloat with an impressive 77-59 win over Carleton Saturday.

A hounding Hamline defense, 23 Bethel turnovers and some suspect officiating knocked Bethel off its feet Wednesday. The Royals reeled from Hamline’s full-court pressure, going down one after the first quarter and eight at halftime.

Royals’ senior guard Rosie Penke shot a three to tie the game at 46 with six minutes to go in the game. But that stood no match for Hamline’s Emma Lamppa, who shot a devastating 5-for-7 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from three for 14 points, as well as the go-ahead 10-footer, shortly after Penke’s shot.

Saturday, Bethel dominated from the jump, going up 11 in the first quarter, to stay alive atop the conference. Junior forward Emily Erickson scored a game-high 27, and Penke added her own 17, helping the Royals clinch a spot in the conference playoffs with the win.

Senior forward Elly Schmitz didn’t play Saturday. She’s played limited minutes since coming back from a December knee injury.

The Royals will do what they can to seize first place from Concordia, although they need help from Concordia’s opponents. If Bethel wins its last two games against Augsburg and St. Catherine, and Concordia loses its last two games against St. Olaf and St. Scholastica, the Royals will be crowned regular-season MIAC champions and earn the number one seed in the MIAC playoffs.

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Men’s hockey (12-10-1, 8-6-0): Sweep in Moorhead gets Royals back on track

Bethel men’s hockey outscored the Concordia College Cobbers 5-2 in a weekend sweep, keeping the Royals firmly in the race for a top spot in the MIAC playoffs.

Following four straight losses to Gustavus and Saint Mary’s, I feared for the Royals’ season. Bethel fell in the standings and looked doomed to continue the trend on its weekend road trip to Moorhead.

Senior forward Tyler Braccini’s goal at 6:32 began the scoring in Friday’s 3-1 win before sophomore forward Joe Kelly followed suit, putting the Royals up 2-0 at the end of the first period. Concordia brought the score within one in the second, but senior forward Tyler Kostelecky’s goal ultimately put the game out of reach.

Senior goalkeeper Austin Ryman tallied 28 saves in Friday’s win.

Saturday, Braccini and Kostelecky both scored to give the Royals the 2-1 win and their 26th point in the standings, clinching a playoff spot and keeping them within four of first-place Saint Mary’s.

Bethel finishes its regular season with a two-game series versus St. Olaf Friday and Saturday.

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Women’s hockey (12-9-2, 6-8-2): Could it? Yes, it absolutely could

I wrote off Bethel women’s hockey just two weeks ago. The Royals sat second-to-last in the MIAC standings with just two conference wins. They had no shot of clinching a playoff spot.

Until they swept their last two series. This weekend, the Royals scored six goals against Concordia en route to a 2-1 overtime win Friday and a 4-0 domination Saturday. Bethel figured something out after the offense looked like its biggest weakness just two weeks ago.

It was a slow game Friday. Concordia netted a power-play goal six minutes into the first period. Bethel desperately tried to tie the game, outshooting the Cobbers 46-28 overall, but struggled to score.

Until freshman Rylen Kissell found the net with six minutes remaining in regulation. 1-1.

Senior forward Beth Vincent fires and scores the game-winning shot three minutes into overtime Friday for a 2-1 Bethel win. (Bennett Moger)

Three minutes into the extra frame, senior forward Beth Vincent scored the winner for the Royals.

Then, the Royals slammed Concordia with four scores Saturday. Senior forward Kallie Tibbetts tallied two goals, while senior forward Maddi O’Connor and freshman forward Amelia McQuay scored their own.

Senior goalkeeper Ashley Gustafson made 26 saves in the shutout. Despite the offensive struggles throughout January, she’s been fantastic for the Royals. She refuses to let this season end without a chance at a conference title.

With four straight wins under their belt, the Royals currently hold a conference playoff spot. But they remain just one point ahead of their next opponent – St. Olaf. If my math is correct, just one win next weekend – worth two points – will clinch a playoff spot for the nearly down-and-out Royals.

I can’t wait.

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Thanks for coming back, friends. I will likely begin releasing The Pen bi-weekly now. Managing editor duties are much different than my sports editor duties, but I will never deprive you of the content you love.

Speaking of love, share some of it. We certainly all need more. It doesn’t even have to be Valentine’s Day. I know you’re not reading this on Feb. 14, so you have no excuse.

Until next time, try the hot honey snack wrap at McDonald’s, visit England and cheer for women’s hockey.

Love y’all.

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About the Contributors

Aiden Penner, Managing Editor

Aiden Penner, 20, is a junior journalism and media production major with a history minor. In his free time he dumbbell bench presses, exposes his likes on Instagram Reels and ponders everything from human depravity to the societal value of the McRib. His biggest flex is that he met Carl Azuz.

Bennett Moger, Staff Photographer

Bennett Moger, 20, is a sophomore business marketing major with a double minor in photojournalism and social media. He spends pretty much all his time taking and editing photos. In the chance that he isn’t, you can find him taking on the next big hike or camping with his closest friends.