ST. PAUL, Minn. – In each team's UMAC opener, the University of Northwestern's and Bethany Lutheran College's Women's Soccer teams combined for an instant classic in Mankato. That evening, the Vikings prevailed by a 4-3 score despite a hat trick from Northwestern's
Haley Mersberger (Kiel, Wisc./Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah). Tuesday night at Reynolds Field, the Eagles got their revenge and overtook BLC for second place in the conference standings via an exhilarating 2-1 win.
UNW wasted no time delivering the message that they were ready for battle in its final regular season home game. Just 46 seconds into the match,
Elle Bush (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) booted one toward the Bethany 18-yard box, where it bounced over the charging goalkeeper. Mersberger, the reigning UMAC Offensive Player of the Week, was able to run it down and tap it in for one of the quickest goals you'll ever see to open a game.
In the fourth minute, Mersberger got loose behind the Vikings' defense for a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper, but was turned away at the net.
Megan Kohrt (Monona, Wis./Homeschool) nearly scored in the 32
nd minute when she was left open on the left side of the box. After her shot attempt was saved,
Megan Moeller (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Christian School) got a crack at the rebound but wasn't able to convert.
In the 39
th minute, junior
Mya Chan (Brandon, S.D./Homeschool) lined up a corner kick from the right side, where she later revealed she was just trying to set one of her teammates up. That desire turned out to not be necessary, as her kick deflected off the BLC keeper into the net. It was the ESD Conference product's first goal of the season.
The Vikings were able to apply some pressure late with a goal in the 86
th, but UNW's defense stifled them the rest of the way, as they did for the first 85 minutes, and helped seal the seismic 2-1 win.
Samantha Hansen (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy), one day after being named UMAC Defensive Player of the Week, made five saves to do her part.
Offensively, Kohrt led the charge with eight shots and four shots on goal. Mersberger added four shots, three of which were on goal, and one of Moeller's five shots was on goal. Chan finished with two shots, as did
Meghan Corbett (Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral), and
Briella Babcock (Byron, Minn./Byron) added one.
The three points Northwestern picked up with the win catapulted them past Bethany Lutheran into second place by one point. The final three regular season games will determine which of the two will host a UMAC Playoff Semifinal, but the Eagles now control their own destiny. They will return to action Saturday at Minnesota Morris. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 PM in Morris.
