ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Sophomore
Annie Reichhoff netted her second-career goal for the St. Olaf College women's soccer team, but Bethel University edged the Oles, 2-1, late in the first overtime period on Tuesday afternoon in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) action at Ona Orth Complex.
With the score tied at 1-1 and the first overtime period drawing to a close, Brooke Ogne finished off a cross from Maggie Sipe to give Bethel (5-2-0, 1-1-0 MIAC) the win with 1:40 left in the first overtime. St. Olaf (3-2-1, 1-1-0 MIAC), which had won five of the last six meetings with the Royals, saw its four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) come to an end with the overtime setback.
Just 4:30 into the game, Britney Monteon scored for the fifth time in seven games this season to give the hosts a very-early 1-0 lead with her third goal in the last four contests. The lead did not last 20 minutes, however, as Reichhoff evened the game at 1-1 in the 24th minute for the Oles, getting on the end of a free kick from the left wing by senior
Kaylyn Billmeyer.
Reichhoff's goal made the sophomore St. Olaf's seventh goalscorer this season through six games.
Earlier in the half, senior
Emily Lecy nearly tied the game, only to see her shot from the right side of the box hit the far post and evade a teammate in front of the net. The Oles produced another chance less than three minutes later in the 15th minute, but Bethel goalkeeper Kaylee Peterson tipped a
Claire Bash shot onto the cross bar and out for a corner.
In the second half, both teams had chances to break the tie, with
Brynne Davis making a diving save to thwart a Bethel chance with 17 minutes remaining in regulation and Peterson producing saves on
Mackenzie Schoustra and
Maggie Wilson in the final 12 minutes of the second half.
Bethel outshot St. Olaf 23-11 in the game, although shots on goal were just 10-8 in favor of the Royals. Davis made a season-high eight saves for the Oles in the loss, while Peterson had seven saves between the pipes for the Royals.
St. Olaf, which was receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Women's North Regional Rankings Poll, is next in action on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. at the College of Saint Benedict.
