SAINT PETER, Minn. - The Gustavus women's soccer team took on Bethel on Saturday and conceded three goals in the first half, dropping the match, 3-0.
The Gusties (1-5-2, 0-2-1 MIAC) fell victim to an early goal against Bethel (2-5-0, 1-2-0 MIAC) and then a pair within 1:20 of each other near the end of the half and were unable to recover in the second half on a rainy day in Saint Peter.
In the fifth minute, a shot by a Royal just dipped over the outstretched hand of senior
Katelyn Olson (Cloquet, Minn.) to take the lead for Bethel and put the Gusties in an early hole. Bethel dominated in shots for most of the first half, forcing multiple saves from Olson in and amongst shots that were missed or got blocked. Junior
Lauren Coy (Mahtomedi, Minn.) and first-year
Taylor Schilling (Mankato, Minn.) were able to force saves from the Royal goalkeeper in the first half, but could not find the back of the net. Bethel led in shots 16-2, 8-2 in goal, and had four corners compared to the Gusties' two.
The momentum was reversed in the second half, with Gustavus leading 13-7 in shots. The Gusties had the first five shots in the first 12 minutes of the half, three of which came from first-year
Brayleigh Sumner (Grafton, Wis.) and two of which from junior
Tessa Zachmann (Blaine, Minn.). Three of those shots needed to be saved and after a short intermission via a Bethel shot, the Gusties took three more shots, including junior
Meghan Colebeck (South St. Paul, Minn.) hitting the post. The last 20 minutes of the game was more back-and-forth as the Royals led in shots, 6-5, but overall the Gusties held the second half in the palm of their hand. Unfortunately, Gustavus could not find a goal throughout their eight shots on goal in the latter 45, dropping the MIAC matchup, 3-0.
Coy and Sumner led the Gusties with two shots each and while senior
Taylor Finney (Byron, Minn.), Coy, sophomore
Sophia Post (Mankato, Minn.), and junior
Kate Hamski (Blaine, Minn.) played the full 90 minutes in the outfield.
The Gustavus women's soccer team returns to action on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m, traveling to Macalester for a midweek MIAC matchup.
