ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University men's soccer team dropped their season opener to a tough University of Wisconsin-Superior squad by a score of 3-0 Saturday afternoon. The sunny skies and 70 degree temperatures made for a great day for soccer but the Royals were unable to provide any offensive highlights for the home crowd as they fall to 0-4 on the year.

“I feel like we are playing significantly better with each game,” Royals head coach Jeremy Iwaszkowiec said. “We need to eliminate silly mistakes in the back and capitalize on the chances we create.”

The two teams battled for the first 24 minutes with no score, despite opportunities for both teams, until UW-Superior broke through with a goal. It would stay 1-0 going into halftime. The Yellowjackets got their second goal six minutes into the second period and added another at the 74 minute mark.

A total of four yellow cards were handed during the second period, three on UW-Superior.  The Yellowjackets outshot the Royals 17-7, including 8-2 in the second period, while Bethel had five corner kicks to UW-Superior's two.  

“The game today was tough mentally and physically but I am very happy with the effort,” Iwaszkowiec said. “Although the results may not reflect it, I feel like we are very prepared for conference play.”

The Royals will now enter Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action when they travel to face Augsburg College Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. They will then return home next Saturday to take on Hamline University at 1 p.m.