NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The third-seeded St. Olaf College women's soccer team returned to the semifinals of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs with a 2-0 victory over sixth-seeded Bethel University on Tuesday afternoon at a rain-soaked Rolf Mellby Field.
A first-half goal from junior
Rachel Anderson and a second-half strike from senior
Wren VanDeWalker sent regionally-ranked St. Olaf (14-2-4) past Bethel (6-9-2) and into the semifinals for the third season in a row. The Oles, who were ranked No. 6 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Region IX Poll, have won a quarterfinal game in each of their four appearances in the MIAC Playoffs over the last five seasons.
With the win, St. Olaf will travel to second-seeded St. Catherine University for a 2 p.m. kickoff in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 5 in St. Paul. The Wildcats, who are currently ranked No. 4 in the region, took the regular-season meeting between the two teams by a 5-1 margin on Oct. 13.
Bethel generated four shots in the opening 10 minutes, including one by Jessica Oliver in the 10th minute that forced a diving save from sophomore
Charlotte Percy, who pushed the ball wide and away from danger. After the early pressure by the Royals, Anderson opened the scoring in the 17th minute by firing the ball into the top-right corner after senior
Lillian Rediger touched the ball to Anderson after a corner kick was not fully cleared by Bethel. The goal was Anderson's ninth of the season, while Rediger picked up her fourth assist.
Early in the second half, Percy made a leaping save to deny Hannah Kvant a game-tying goal after Kvant's shot was heading towards the top-left corner less than two minutes into the half. The Oles proceeded to double their lead in the 59th minute when VanDeWalker curled a long-distance shot from the right side in at the far post for her third goal in two games against the Royals this season. VanDeWalker scored both goals in St. Olaf's 2-1 win in Arden Hills on Oct. 24.
With the rain picking up late on, Bethel had an opportunity to cut its deficit to one with 20 minutes still to play, but Percy made a kick save to deny Elisabeth Rupp after Rupp got in behind the Oles' defense. Two minutes later, sophomore
Emma Boyle nearly made it 3-0 with a shot from near the penalty spot, but Bethel's Abby Wright made the save to keep it a 2-0 game.
The Royals generated just one shot over the final 20 minutes, which was a straight-forward save by Percy in the 88th minute for the sophomore's eighth save of the game. The eight saves were the most for Percy since having 10 in a 4-0 win at Gustavus Adolphus back on Sept. 16. Wright finished with four saves for Bethel, which held an 8-6 edge in shots on goal despite St. Olaf having a 14-12 advantage in overall shots.
The win kept the Oles unbeaten at home this season at 7-0-2 and improved St. Olaf to 4-8 all-time in the MIAC Playoffs.
