MANKATO, Minn. – Saturday's matchup between the University of Northwestern women's soccer team and Bethany Lutheran lived up to its billing as the UMAC Game of the Week, featuring chances on both ends before ending in a 2-0 Viking victory.

Bethany struck first in the third minute on a well-hit strike from the top of the box. Northwestern answered by taking control for much of the half, outshooting the Vikings 9-6 overall and 6-3 on target. The Eagles' attack, led by Haley Mersberger (Kiel, Wis./Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah) along with Briella Babcock (Byron, Minn./Byron) and Marie Kendall (Dakar, Senegal/Dakar Academy), relentlessly pressured the Vikings' back line and created chance after chance. With eight minutes left in the half, Kendall broke free up the left side and delivered a cross into the box, nearly connecting with Babcock for the equalizer. The final minute of the half was spent almost entirely in Bethany's box, as the Eagles peppered the goal. A dangerous strike from Mersberger forced the Viking keeper to punch the ball away, keeping UNW just shy of leveling the score heading into halftime.

Mersberger picked up where she left off, firing just wide of the goal three minutes into the second half. In the 52nd minute, she broke through the back line again with a defender on her hip, attempting a chip shot that barely missed wide. Kendall followed suit with back-to-back chances in the 60th and 61st minutes, narrowly missing on both her attempts. In the 68th minute, Bethany doubled its lead with a well-placed finish just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Sam Hansen (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy). Despite their efforts down the stretch, including several late chances from Mersberger, the Eagles were unable to push anything past the Vikings' keeper.

Northwestern finished with 20 shots in the match, including eight from Mersberger with three on goal, six and four on target from Babcock, and five from Kendall with two shots landing on target as well. Hansen recorded six saves between the posts for UNW.

The Eagles now turn their attention to another tough road matchup, traveling to Superior, Wisconsin, to face the Yellowjackets on Tuesday night at 7 PM.