ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University men's soccer team couldn't overcome a two-goal halftime deficit, dropping its first contest of the season and MIAC opener to St. Olaf, 4-1.
 
St. Olaf struck first in a somewhat lucky fashion. An attempted cross from the right wing trajected off a BU defender with a St. Olaf player just in reach tapping it in from two yards out.  The Oles added their second goal of the half in the 39th minute.
 
A slow first half for the Royals was rebounded by a fast start in the second. A pair of shots in the first 90 seconds including one off the foot of Keegan Mellema from 16 yards out hit the far side post.
 
The Oles made it 3-0 in the 57th minute before Bethel finally caught a break. A ball sent into the Royals box found the head of a Oles defender who tried to clear it. To the luck of BU, that clear went right into the back of the the Royals net.
 
STO moved the lead back to three goals connecting on a bullet shot from 22 yards out that made it through traffic and goalie Colin Hupert in the 83rd minute.
 
Bethel, now 5-1, returns to the pitch next Tuesday, Sept. 21 hosting Crown at 4 p.m.