ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A late, first period goal for Concordia College was the difference as the visiting Cobbers defeated the Bethel University Royals 1-0. On a rainy afternoon the battle of the top two teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) women's soccer standings was very evenly played but the Cobbers were able to put one in the net on a header in the box with just 1:07 left in the first period. The victory for Concordia, 6-1 and ranked #23 in NCAA DIII, strengthened their grip on first place and dropped the Royals into a three-way tie for second place at 4-2-2 with Augsburg and St. Olaf.

The Cobbers outshot the Royals 13-12 on the game but all twelve shots were on goal for the Royals; and all twelve shots were stopped by Concordia goal keeper Ali Nelson. Bethel's Kathryn McGaffey (Fr., Bloomington, Minn.) made five saves in goal for the Royals. Bethel had several good scoring opportunities but Nelson continually stopped the Royals efforts. Kelsey Flaherty (Sr., Shoreview, Minn.), Anne Fazio (Sr., Holland, Mich.), Christa Heilgenthal (So., Ames, Iowa), and Kelsey Holmberg (Sr., Cambridge, Minn.) all put two shots on goal and Jessica Huseby (So., Medina, Minn.) added three more shots on goal.

“It was a tough match,” said Royals coach Amanda Maxwell. “Concordia is very direct, physical, and fast. It took us a bit to put the ball on the ground and play our game. When we did we were successful. It was a learning opportunity to stick to our game plan. We are disappointed about the loss but are hopeful for finishing well our last three games.”

For Bethel, it was only the third time all season the Royals were outshot in a game and only the third time they have been shut out all year. The loss also stopped the Royals unbeaten streaks of seven games overall, and six in the MIAC. The Royals will host Carleton College next Saturday for the final home game of the 2012 season. It will mark the final home game for four Bethel seniors; Flaherty, Holmberg, Fazio and Lydia Bergeson (Mauston, Wis.). The match will kick-off at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex at 1 p.m.