Eau Claire, Wis. — October 6, 2025 — The Bethel University men's soccer team put together a determined second-half effort Monday night, but an early deficit proved too much to overcome in a 2–1 road loss to Wisconsin–Eau Claire at Simpson Field.

The Blugolds struck twice in the opening half to build a 2–0 lead, forcing Bethel to play from behind. The Royals settled in after the early goals, generating several chances through Dylan Magistad, Eli Pettersen, and Zach Rother, but couldn't find the finishing touch before halftime.

Momentum shifted in the second half as Bethel pressed high and controlled possession. The Royals outshot Eau Claire 9–5 in the final 45 minutes and tallied eight total corner kicks, keeping consistent pressure on the home defense. Their persistence paid off in the 79th minute when Roy Kyle found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 2–1.

Bethel continued to push forward in the closing minutes, with Ethan Martin and Caleb Reimnitz both testing the keeper on late attempts. Goalkeeper Ben Lehn finished the night with four saves while the Royals' back line tightened defensively, holding Eau Claire scoreless in the second half.

Despite the late surge, Bethel couldn't find the equalizer before the final whistle.

With the result, the Royals move to 7–3–2 overall and 3–2–0 in MIAC play. Bethel will look to bounce back quickly as they travel to St. Olaf on Saturday for another key conference matchup.