ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The Bethel University men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking defeat in overtime by a 3-2 score to Saint Mary's University. The Royals busted out early on scoring twice in the opening five minutes to take an early 2-0 lead and seemed to maintain that momentum throughout the first half. In the second half things began to turn and the Cardinals scored twice in the final 15 minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime where they scored again to steal the win at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex.

Bethel scored their first goal just 31 seconds into the game. Andrew Zwart scored after finishing a cross into the box by Paul Aguirre. Just three and a half minutes later Keegan Heckman scored after the Royals earned a corner and the ball was deflected to Heckman who was able to convert, giving Bethel an early 2-0 lead. The stunned Cardinals where able to right themselves enough however to not allow any more Bethel goals and eventually SMU took the lead in shots and shots on goal for the first half and the game.

The Royals saw the momentum begin to turn in the second half and in the 75th minute SMU scored their first goal off a penalty kick. The Cardinals where then able to tie the game in the 82nd minute to force overtime. In OT the Cardinals outshot Bethel 4-0 before they were able to get a header goal off a corner kick to take the victory with just 1:22 remaining in the first overtime. 

The loss drops Bethel to 3-7 on the season and 0-3 in the MIAC. SMU improved to 4-5 overall and 1-3 in MIAC play. The Royals will next travel to Collegeville, Minnesota to take on the Saint John's University Johnnies at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.