ST. PAUL, Minn. – The stage was set for another epic battle between the University of Northwestern and Bethany Lutheran College Women's Soccer teams on Wednesday night. The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference recognized this as well, tabbing the duel as the conference's Game of the Week across all sports. It was a rematch of UMAC Semifinals from each of the past three seasons, which all resulted in wins for Northwestern. The Eagles kept that trend going, taking down the Vikings 3-0 to make it seven wins in their last eight games against BLC.
UNW controlled the match from start to finish even without star forward
Haley Mersberger (Kiel, Wis./Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah), keeping the ball on its offensive side of the pitch for a majority of the first half. After several early shots on goal that just barely missed, and a handful of unsuccessful corner kicks, Northwestern was finally able to convert on one in the 31
st minute when
Mya Chan (Brandon, S.D./Homeschool) crossed one into the box and
Megan Kohrt (Monona, Wis./Homeschool) knocked it in. The reigning UMAC Offensive Player of the Week, who had a hat trick in last Wednesday's draw against Bethel, had to reach around the defender with her left foot to get the shot off. The Eagles were able to get one more shot on goal, but couldn't capitalize, and took a 1-0 lead into the half.
Northwestern continued to dominate the possession and shots in the second half, culminating with a
Briella Babcock (Byron, Minn./Byron) goal in the 71
st minute off a beautiful assist from Kohrt. It was Babcock's first goal of 2024. UNW added more insurance just seven minutes later, when
Megan Moeller (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Christian School) scored her first goal of the season, courtesy of a perfect feed from
Alix Krueger (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area). The score would hold and the Eagles walked away with their first win of the season and now sit atop the UMAC standings at 1-0.
As mentioned previously, the stats show just how dominant Northwestern was on its home turf. UNW out-shot Bethany Lutheran 38-4 and 15-2 on goal, and had 14 corner kicks compared to BLC's one. Kohrt fired 13 shots and seven on goal, finishing with one goal and an assist. Babcock and Moeller both tallied six shots, two shots on goal, and one goal apiece. Chan took four shots, one of which was on goal, and logged an assist, while Krueger,
Naomi Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) and
Madeline Hallberg (Princeton, Minn./Princeton) all finished with one shot on goal.
Samantha Hansen (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy) saved both of the shots she faced and got some help from a tremendous back line of
Lauren Bosley (Blaine, Minn./Blaine),
Mallory Moseman (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) and
Elle Bush (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji).
Northwestern will continue conference play Saturday when it visits Crown College at 12:30 PM. Tune into the UMAC Sports Network for live coverage of the match.
