ST. PAUL, Minn. - The first Eagles' fall sporting event came and went Friday afternoon as the University of Northwestern women's soccer team traveled five minutes north on Snelling to face MIAC opponent Bethel University. In a season-opening draw, the Eagles found success from distance, with both goals coming from over 30 yards out.

The match began with aggressive play leaning slightly in Bethel's favor. In the 18th minute, the Royals nearly broke through on a counterattack, but freshman defender Marie Kendall (Dakar, Senegal/Dakar Academy) showed her speed by tracking back to shut down the initial attempt, conceding a corner. Northwestern cleared the first attempt, but Bethel capitalized on the rebound from the second, knocking in the opening goal of the game.

The Eagles responded with urgency, pushing forward and firing several shots on frame with about 15 minutes left in the half. Their persistence paid off when momentum shifted late. With seven minutes remaining in the half, Naomi Meehan (Waconia, Minn./Homeschool) unleashed a thunderous strike from 30 yards out, rocketing the ball into the top shelf to even the score at 1–1 heading into the break.

UNW carried that energy into the second half, generating several dangerous chances in the opening 20 minutes. The breakthrough came in the 79th minute when Haley Mersberger (Kiel, Wis./Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah) intercepted a goal kick, found space, and blasted a long-range shot from 35 yards out that scraped the post before finding the back of the net. The Northwestern lead lasted just four minutes when Bethel found a goal of their own to level the score once again, where it remained to the final whistle.

Mersberger led the Eagles up top with a goal on four shots, while Meehan added the first-half equalizer from midfield. Britta Holter (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) provided the lone assist, and Meghan Corbett (Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) created chances with two shots. In the back, goalkeeper Sam Hansen (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy) was steady with four saves across the full 90 minutes.

The Eagles head to Moorhead next weekend for a doubleheader, facing host Concordia College on September 5 and Nebraska Wesleyan on September 6, with both matches kicking off at 2 p.m.