ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran women's soccer team erased a one-goal deficit to take down Crown 3-1 on Wednesday night. With the wins the Vikings move to 9-5-1 overall and 8-3 in the UMAC while the Polars fall to 3-10-3 overall and 3-5-3 in the conference. 

"To fight back from a goal down is not an easy task and our ladies showed great determination to not let that mistake define them," said Head Coach Emma Morris. "Ultimately, they kept the ball on the ground and connected passes a lot better in the second half and brought the 3 points home along with a guaranteed playoff spot. We need to keep this momentum going into the final conference games throughout the next week and a half and push ourselves to get the best finish possible."

Crown was the team who got the scoring started in this one, as they were able to find the back of the net in the eighth minute. The Polars fired a shot that was saved before their second attempt less than a minute later was successful for the 1-0 lead. The Vikings started to put the pressure on in the 20th minute when Olaitz Azkue took a shot that was saved by the Polar keeper but awarded Bethany a corner. Off the corner, Asia Jota played one in that Azkue was able to put home to even the score at one apiece. Exactly eight minutes later, the Vikings struck again when Elena Luján Rubio scored with an assist to Juana Quevedo. Brooke Wolanin played strong the rest of the half in net, holding the Polars scoreless in making four saves in the first half as Bethany took a 2-1 lead into the half.

In the second half, Wolanin continued to play strong as the Vikings held onto their one goal lead. With time winding down and Bethany trying to secure their victory, Mia Saulter all but sealed it when she scored in the 87th minute to extend the lead to 3-1.

Wolanin made six saves in the win while allowing just the one goal.

Bethany will be back in action on Saturday when they take on Morris in a 2:30 p.m. matchup.