ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Bethel University women's soccer team punched their ticket to the MIAC Playoffs for the first time in program history by defeating the St. Catherine's University Wildcats on the road by a 3-2 score Saturday afternoon. A huge crowd turned out on a sunny, but brisk, early afternoon to watch the Wildcats and Royals battle it out for the final spot in the MIAC playoffs. Freshman
Erin Ness scored a pair of goals for the Royals including the game winner with under ten minutes remaining in the third period.
"It was a fun and intense game filled with a lot of pressure and excitement," said Bethel head coach
Amanda Maxwell. "We had so many great fans out there that made it a fun environment."
The Royals were able to strike first in the much anticipated matchup when Ness picked up a loose ball off a corner kick and scored her first collegiate goal at 7:12 in the first half.
Jessica Huseby then scored the Royals next goal as she was able to put the ball in the net off another Bethel corner kick to put the Royals up 2-0 with less than four minutes remaining in the half. St. Kate's was able to cut the Royals lead to just one before the half, however, scoring just a minute and a half after Huseby's goal. The Wildcats were able to put a rebound in the net after the previous shot had hit the post.
SCU was able to tie the game up early in the second half, erasing Bethel's lead. The game would remain at a tense 2-2 for the next 29 minutes before Ness was able to net the game winner following yet another Bethel corner kick. The Royals held off the Wildcats for the remaining nine minutes and the Royals and their fans celebrated Bethel's victory and subsequent MIAC Playoff berth.
"St. Kate's battles hard in every game so we knew we had to stay composed," coach Maxwell said. "Even when they came back and tied it up we didn't give up and fought hard together as a team to get the final goal."
The win was the sixth in a row for the Royals overall and sixth in MIAC play, both new program records. After an 0-4 start in MIAC play Bethel rebounded to win six of their final seven games in the conference, including giving Concordia their only loss of the season and costing the Cobbers an MIAC championship.
The Royals will take on the Carleton College Knights in the No. 3 vs No. 6 seed matchup on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Northfield, Minnesota.
"We are super excited for playoffs!" coach Maxwell exclaimed.
