ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Bethel University women's soccer pitched its first shutout of the season winning its MIAC opener 1-0 over St. Olaf at Ona Orth Athletic Complex Tuesday night.
 
The battle was off to a slow start with no score until the 45th minute. Beating the end of the first half horn with 1.5 seconds remaining, senior forward Lauren Davis ran with a ball played up from a BU defender. Davis fought her way past the Oles defender beating the goalie to an empty net. 
 
The Royals defense felt the pressure throughout the night with 18 shots from Oles, 10 on goal, compared to only seven by the Royals who, three of which on target.  Behind a career-high nine saves for goalkeeper Izzy Smith, the odds were in Bethel's favor. 
 
A bend but don't break mentality in the second half, where 11 of the Oles 18 shots came, helped Bethel improve to 3-2 on the year and 1-0 in MIAC play. 
 
The team will be back in action on Saturday at St Kate's. First touch comes at 1 p.m.