Box Score

Mankato, Minn. - Bethany Lutheran defeated Minnesota-Morris 1-0 in the last regular season conference game of the year. The Vikings and Cougars tied 0-0 in double overtime earlier in the year.

With both teams already guaranteed a spot in the UMAC post-season tournament, the squads were competing for the third seed. With a win the Vikings clinched the third spot and now will be traveling to Northwestern on Tuesday to play the second ranked Eagles. MN-Morris now must face regular season conference champions St. Scholsatica.

It was a goal late in the first half that would be the decision. A team effort with assists by Kristin Renner (Vicotria, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) and Joelle Pipal (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) would help Kelly Kitzman (Osseo, Minn./Osseo) score the game winning goal. Kitzman, the team’s leading scorer, now has 12 goals on the season.

The Cougars outshot the Vikings 9-6, but only two of those shots were on goal for MN-Morris. Vikings keeper Jada Holden (Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn) saved both of those shots. The Vikings had four shots on goal. The corner kick advantage went to MN-Morris 6-1.

The Vikings will play Tuesday at Northwestern in the first game of the UMAC post-season. This is the first appearance for the Bethany Lutheran women’s soccer team in the conference play-offs. Game time is set for 2 p.m.