NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Bethel University scored late in the first half to defeat the St. Olaf College women's soccer team, 1-0, in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) contest on Senior Day at Rolf Mellby Field on Saturday afternoon.
Sophie Kendall scored her 12th goal of the season in the closing minutes of the first half for Bethel (13-3-0, 6-3-0 MIAC) and the Royals held St. Olaf (7-7-2, 4-4-1 MIAC) scoreless for their 12th shutout in 16 games this season.
Despite the loss, the Oles sit just three points behind Saint Benedict for the sixth and final spot in the MIAC Playoffs with two games remaining after the Bennies suffered a 5-1 loss to St. Catherine on Saturday afternoon. Prior to the game, St. Olaf honored its four-player senior class of
Mackenzie Schoustra,
Katie Brumley,
Claire Bash and
Eileen Healy on the field for their efforts over their careers.
In the 42nd minute, Kendall unleashed a right-footed shot from outside the box on the left that flew in inside the far post for the lone goal of the game.
Bethel's Lauren Davis had the first quality scoring chance of the game after collecting a through ball in the middle of the box, but junior goalkeeper
Brynne Davis rushed off her line to make the save to keep the game scoreless in the 24th minute.
After Kendall's goal, St. Olaf had two chances to tie the game before halftime. Bash played a ball over the top to get first year
Tessa Anderson in behind the Bethel defense, but a rushing Kaylee Peterson thwarted Anderson in a 1-on-1 less than two minutes after Kendall's tally.
Just 25 seconds before the half, junior
Rose Sandell saw her left-footed shot from 25 yards out hit the cross bar near the top-left corner of the goal, as she nearly tied the game up.
Midway through the second half, Schoustra fired a shot from the left side of the box right at Peterson, as the Oles continued to look for a tying goal.
Bethel held a 20-14 advantage in shots in the game, including an 8-5 edge in shots on goal. Davis suffered the loss despite making seven saves, while Peterson logged the shutout with a five-save afternoon.
St. Olaf heads to crosstown rival Carleton on Wednesday, Oct. 30 for a MIAC contest beginning at 3:30 p.m.
