MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran men's soccer team hosted  Gustavus on Wednesday night and came away with a 1-1 draw. The result moves the Vikings to 2-0-1 on the season.



"It was an excellent result," said Head Coach Derick Lyngholm. "They're one of the best teams in our region year in and year out. They had our number for most of the night but big credit to our defense, especially in a couple corner kick situations for taking the ball off the line."

The game played in Gustavus' favor in the early going with the visitors setting and controlling the pace early on. They would take advantage of that pace in the 12th minute when they were able to steal an errant Viking pass and push the other way for a goal to go up 1-0. The Gusties would continue to hold onto control in the early going but a big substitution for Bethany changed the tempo of the game. The Vikings brought in eight new players in a 10-minute span and used their fresh legs to help control possession. With 12 minutes remaining in the half, Bethany would be the beneficiary of a penalty in the Gustavus box. Julio Castanon would come on for the penalty kick and knot things up at one after finding the back of the net. The two teams both then played with a renewed energy the final 12 minutes and played scoreless as they headed into half tied at one. 

The second half played out very similarly to the end of the first, with both teams going back and forth with possession but neither mustering much for opportunities. The Gusties had a few chances that presented themselves in the second half, but they were halted by saves from Mason Steffen and the Viking defense. Both teams remained scoreless for the final 45 minutes as the game ended in a draw.

Steffen recorded four saves in the contest while allowing the one goal. 

The Vikings are next in action Saturday when they host Dordt for a 4 p.m. match.