Box Score

ROSEVILLE, Minn. - Labor Day was no day off for the Bethel University men's soccer team. Hot and muggy conditions prevailed as the squad traveled down the road to take on neighboring Northwestern College. A sizable crowd of more than 700 was on hand, with good representation from both the schools, but when the game ended, the Royals found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-2 decision.

The Eagles found the back of the net early, as Alex Reyes scored less than three minutes into the game unassisted. Cal Kanowitz added another goal at the 15:48 mark of the first half with the help of Aaron Thelen to put Northwestern out in front 2-0.

The Royals cut their deficit in half shortly thereafter when newcomer Zach Hurd (So., Portage, Mich.) scored, assisted by Andreas Scott (So., Cedar, Minn.) on a cross from the right side. The score remained tied 2-1 heading into the halftime break.

Soon after the second half began, the Royals tied up the game at 2-2 when Scott scored his first goal of the season with the help of co-captain Randon Sommars (Sr., Cambridge, Minn.) and Eric Johnson (Jr., Excelsior, Minn.).

For the next 20-plus minutes, the game remained deadlocked in a defensive battle. It wasn't until the 68:28 mark that Northwestern went up for good as a result of the ball going into the net off of a Bethel player. The Eagles Kanowitz tacked on another goal with less than a minute to play, his second of the game, assisted by Cory Swenson.

Northwestern out-shot Bethel by a 3:1 ratio, tallying 18 to the Royals six. T

The loss drops Bethel to 1-1 overall, while Northwestern improves to 1-1 on their season. The Royals are scheduled to play their home opener tomorrow against another Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) team in Crown College beginning at 4 p.m. at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex.