ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University women's soccer team lost another heartbreaker, falling to Augsburg College 1-0 Tuesday afternoon in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) opener. The Auggies scored their lone goal at the 73 minute mark and a header by Bethel's Lydia Bergeson (Sr., Mauston, Wis.) hit off the left post with just a minute and a half left in the contest as the Auggies improve to 5-0 on the year. Augsburg has yet to allow a goal in 2012.

The Royals and Auggies played a defensive first half as just ten total shots were attempted, six by Augsburg and 4 by Bethel. For the game the Auggies outshot the Royals 11-10 but Bethel put five shots on goal to just three by Augsburg. The Auggies goal was scored by Rachel Nelson, which was her team leading fourth goal of the year. The Royals did not go down without a fight however, as Kelsey Holmberg (Sr., Cambridge, Minn.) put a ball into the box that was headed to the left where Lydia Bergeson sent a header into the left post, just inches away from tying the game up with 1:35 left to play. The ball then ricocheted off the post and back into Bergeson's body before going out of play. The Royals were unable to get another shot off, dropping them to 2-3 on the season and 0-1 in MIAC play.

“We had a solid performance today,” said head coach Amanda Maxwell. “The girls are continuing to play better and better with each game. In MIAC play, the team that capitalizes on the other team's breakdowns is going to win and that is what happened today. Our defense had a great game and one mishap resulted in a goal. I am proud of their effort until the very last minute.”

Bethel will now travel to face MIAC opponent Hamline Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn. The Pipers are currently 4-0 on the season and will be playing at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., Wednesday afternoon. The Royals next home game is not until September 22nd when they host St. Mary's University.