MANKATO, Minn. - MLC women's soccer trailed for just 2:29 before equalizing and going on to win 2-1 at Bethany on Tuesday afternoon.
The win snapped a 12-match winless streak against Bethany, during which the Knights lost 11 matches and tied one.
The Vikings scored in the 16th minute and the Knights found a response in the 19th minute when
Katie Schoeneck found
Anna Kramer on a through ball. Kramer calmly guided the ball into the bottom right corner.
"It was important that we responded right away because we already had some opportunities," coach
Tyson Zarnstorff said. "We didn't want to become frustrated which makes it harder to score goals."
Schoeneck broke the deadlock shortly after in the 26th minute when she controlled the ball in the corner of the penalty box and blasted a shot into the top of the goal. She has now either scored or assisted the Knights' last eight goals.
"Katie was very frustrated by injuries last year," Zarnstorff said. "This year she wanted to go back to the player who is having fun. The last few games she is having fun. It's been awesome to watch her when she is on."
After surrendering the early goal,
Maria Vik made three saves and the defense in front of her limited Bethany's opportunities, particularly in the second half when Vik was needed just once.
It looked like the floodgates might open for MLC for the rest of the afternoon as the Knights had multiple golden opportunities to extend the lead. The best chance came in the 37th minute when Schoeneck had a one-on-one chance with the Bethany goalkeeper, who made an outstanding save to deny Schoeneck her second. Shortly after halftime in the 52nd minute, Kramer nearly doubled her tally, but her shot narrowly flew over the crossbar.
The Knights were without several players due to injury, including multiple starters. Zarnstorff commended his team's ability to adjust.
"The team has really stepped up the last few games," Zarnstorff said. "We have had players step into different roles and they have done so successfully. They have brought the same intensity as the players they are replacing.
"We talk about controlling the controllables and they just step up and get the job done."
