ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—The Bethel University men's soccer team dropped their first match of 2026 following a 3-2 loss to UW-Eau Claire at Ona Orth Complex on Monday.
The Royals fall to 2-1-0, while the Blugolds improve to 2-0-1.
UW-Eau Claire 3, Bethel 2
Striking first was Bethel in the 14th minute, when goalkeeper Griffin Blokker punted a ball down to 10 feet to the right of the net to James Oberholtzer, who centered a pass to Nathan Hunt, who found the back of the net and gave the Royals a 1-0 lead.
The Blugolds responded two minutes later in the 16th minute courtesy of One Enwemnwa, which tied the score 1-1. Owen Backus put Eau Claire in the driver's seat for good at 2-1 in the 38th minute, off an assist from Tobias Volkmann, Onwemnwa widened the cushion to 3-1 in the 54th minute.Â
Bethel narrowed that margin to 3-2 in the 54th minute, when Roy Kyle got the ball off a head of a defender. He fed a back pass to Tadeo Magnana, who converted a goal to the top shelf of the net, which narrowed their deficit to 3-2.
Eau Claire outshot Bethel 20-11. Roy Kyle had a team-leading three shots for the Royals. Six yellow cards were assessed to each team, with Bethel and Eau Claire each committing three.
Griffin Blokker made eight saves in net for Bethel, while Charlie Mroz stopped three shots in goal for the Blugolds.
Bethel will host Simpson at Ona Orth Complex on Friday, September 11 at 4 p.m.
