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Courtesy of Jordan King/MLC SID
WOMEN’S SOCCER
MLC 2, BLC 1
MANKATO - The Martin Luther College Knights trailed for just 2:29 before equalizing and going on to win 2-1 at Bethany Lutheran College on Tuesday afternoon in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference women’s soccer game.
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.”
MEN’S SOCCER
BLC 5, MLC 1
MANKATO - The MLC men’s soccer team found offensive success difficult to come by on Tuesday night, losing 5-1 at Bethany.
The Vikings jumped out quickly, scoring three times in the first half on 16 total shots, compared to just two for the Knights. Bethany scored goals in the 9th, 35th and 39th minutes.
MLC fell behind 4-0 early in the second half, shortly before the Knights got on the scoreboard in the 64th minute on a Silas Gawrisch penalty kick.
Bethany restored the four-goal lead about seven minutes later on a penalty kick of their own after MLC was whistled for a handball in the penalty area.
The Vikings had a 26-5 advantage in total shots, including 12-2 on goal. Nicholas Russ made seven saves for the Knights.