MIAC Women's Soccer Playoffs Home Page

Take a look by the numbers at the 2016 regular season for the Bethel University women's soccer team as they prepare to host the programs first ever MIAC Playoff game Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Royals will welcome the winner of the Tuesday matchup between No. 6 Hamline vs. No. 3 Augsburg to the Ona Orth Athletic Complex. The Royal defeated both the Pipers and Auggies by 1-0 scores at home during the regular season. Fans are reminded that because it is a post-season event, admission will be charged of $7 for adults and $3 for students (children ages 5 and under are free), with only MIAC passes being accepted.

12th – The Royals were picked to finish 12th, dead last in the MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving just 12 points as they proved the doubters wrong with their second place finish.

11 – The Royals 12th place prediction for this year was based off of their 12th place finish a year ago as they went 0-11 in MIAC play, scoring just two goals in those eleven games, making the turnaround this season nothing but remarkable.

75 – Heavily contributing to the reason for the Royals remarkable turnaround was a strong newcomer class of freshman and transfers, as 75 of the Royals 114 points scored this year have been by those newcomers.

8 – The Royals defense posted eight shutouts on the year with a pair of freshman goalies as the last line of defense in Dylan Melby and Kaylee Peterson.

3 – The infusion of new, young talent for Bethel was a perfect complement to the skills of Bethel's three seniors, all of whom have been part of the program for all four years, in midfielder Mikala Smith, forward Mikayla Nordin and defender Andrea Pearson.

2 – The 2016 MIAC Playoff appearance is the second in the programs history and second in the last three years as the Royals last qualified in 2014 as the sixth seed. The second place finish in the MIAC is the highest in program history.

1.0 – Bethel allowed just 18 goals in the regular season, an average of 1.0 per game.

28 – The Royals offense was led by the dynamic play of sophomore Maggie Sipe. The transfer from UW-Eau Claire has totaled 28 points on 10 goals and eight assists. Sipe's 28 points is the highest total since the 2009 season when Brittany Griffore set the program record with 35.

23 – Senior Mikayla Nordin scored the second most points by a Royal since 2009, behind only Sipe's 28 this year. Nordin's 23 points are a new career high as she was one of three Royals who led the team with eight points in 2015. Her career total of 35 points is tied for 14th on Bethel's all-time scoring list. Nordin was the leading scorer for Bethel in conference play with 11 points on four goals and three assists.

10 – The Royals posted a 10-game winning streak through the heart of the season as they won every game they played between September 10th and October 8th. Five of those victories came in non-conference games while the other five were in MIAC play, outscoring their opponents 32-6 during the streak.

3 – The lone rough spot for the Royals was a three-game losing streak in mid-October in which they lost to MIAC playoff qualifiers St. Catherine (2-1), Gustavus (2-0), and MIAC champion St. Thomas (4-0). Bethel has since responded strong from their adversity, riding a current three-game winning streak entering post-season play.

9 – The 2016 Royals have broken or tied nine different team and individual records. Those new records are: Most wins (13) in a season (previous record was 12 in 2009) and most MIAC wins (8) in a season (previous record was 6 in 2014). Fewest losses (4) in a regular season (previous record was 5 in 2009) and fewest MIAC losses (3) in a season (previous record was 4 in 2012). Consecutive games without a loss (11) streak (previous record was 8 in 2009) and consecutive games without a loss in MIAC play (5), which was tied with the 2012 and 2014 teams who did the same.  Freshman goalie Dylan Melby posted four shutouts individually in MIAC play, which is tied for both the individual record (shared by Micale Jensen in 2013 & 2014) and the team record, also accomplished by the 2009, 2011, 2013 & 2014 teams.