BELOIT, Wis. — The Beloit College women's soccer team put up a gritty defensive fight on home turf this afternoon, but a late second-half strike from Wisconsin Lutheran's Alaena Zastrow proved to be the difference in a hard-fought 1-0 loss for the Buccaneers in front of 105 fans.
Despite being outshot 22-3 and seeing just 38% of overall possession, Beloit (1-4-0, 0-0-0 MWC) hung tough for more than 71 minutes, keeping the visiting Warriors off the scoreboard through relentless defending and a standout performance between the posts.
The story of the match for Beloit was freshman goalkeeper Mikayla Campbell (Madison, WI), who turned in a heroic eight-save effort across all 90 minutes. Campbell was tested early and often, denying Wisconsin Lutheran on four separate occasions in the first half alone — including back-to-back saves on Zastrow in the opening six minutes. She continued to frustrate the Warriors' attack into the second half, coming up big on shots from Morgan Bluhm and Joleigh Blahnik before finally being beaten in the 71st minute.
Beloit's offense was limited in comparison, but the Buccaneers made their few opportunities count as scares for the Warriors defense. Maria Monteon (Melrose Park, IL) fired the Buccaneers' first shot of the match in the 12th minute, forcing Wis. Lutheran to respond. Maggie Wood (Bangkok, Thailand), Beloit's midfield engine, was involved throughout — logging a shot in the 37th minute and finishing as one of the Buccaneers' most active foul-drawers with three fouls committed while battling in the midfield. Grace Christos (Valporariso, IN) provided a spark off the bench in the second half testing the Warriors' goal with a shot in the 78th minute that sailed just wide left.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 71st minute when WLC's Alaena Zastrow beat Campbell for an unassisted goal — her first of the season — capping a sustained stretch of second-half pressure from the Warriors. Beloit had weathered 13 shots in the first half and nine more after the break, but the one that got through proved decisive.
The Buccaneers don't return to the field for six days when they head to Decorah, Iowa to meet MWC-newcomers Luther College. Kick off from Luther Soccer Field is set for 1:30 p.m.
