DECORAH, Iowa - The Beloit College women's soccer team fell 1-0 to conference-leading Luther this evening at Luther College Soccer Field. Kate Van Deventer scored in the 4th minute, and Luther held on in front of 65 fans.
Luther (6-2-3, 5-0-1 MWC) remains the top team in the conference standings. Beloit dropped to 4-7-1 overall and 3-2-1 in conference play.
Luther struck almost immediately. Van Deventer finished at 3:40, off an assist from Riley Anderson, for the only goal of the match. Beloit then settled in defensively and kept Luther off the scoreboard for the remaining 86 minutes, but could not generate enough offense to answer.
Goalkeeper Sophia Dietz (Schaumburg, IL) was the busiest player on the field for the Buccaneers, playing all 90 minutes and making five saves. She turned aside shots from Suzett Hinds Cruz and Sofia Colavita late in the first half, then denied Anya Kennedy, Kazi Hankee and Annabelle Pollock in the second half as Luther pushed for a second goal. Luther outshot Beloit 17-4 and held a 7-1 edge in corner kicks, so Dietz's work kept the margin at one. She is now 3-5-1 on the season.
Beloit's attack was quiet in the first half, with no shots, but picked up in the second. Grace Christos (Valporariso, IN) led the way with two shots, both on target, and both were saved by Luther goalkeeper Rylie Bucklin. Her first came in the 85th minute, and her second came in the 89th minute, after Luther was reduced to ten players.
Grace Ramel (Chicago, IL) put the Buccaneers' first shot on frame in the 59th minute, but Bucklin made the save. Willow Mashkuri (Middlesex, VT) produced Beloit's first attempt of the night in the 58th minute, sending a shot wide right.
Beloit's defensive group of Maggie Wood (Bangkok, Thailand), Zyana Turcios (Elmwood Park, Ill.) and Sydney Rausch (Boise, ID) each played the full 90 minutes alongside Dietz.
Luther finished the match shorthanded. Ansley Schaak was shown a yellow and then a red card for unsporting behavior in the 88th minute, giving Beloit a man advantage for the final two minutes. The Buccaneers took advantage with Christos's shot in the 89th minute, but Bucklin held firm to preserve the shutout. Luther was cautioned four times in total, while Beloit received no cards, though the Buccaneers were whistled for 13 fouls to Luther's nine.
The Buccaneers remain on the road this weekend when they face the Lake Forest College Foresters. Kick off from Mohr Field is set for 1:30 pm on Saturday.
