MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran women's soccer team put together a complete effort on Wednesday in the UMAC Semifinal, defeating Northwestern 5-1 to advance to the program's first ever UMAC Championship. With the win the Vikings move to 9-6-3 overall while the Eagles end their season 7-10-2.

This one got out to a blazing fast start for the Vikings, as Olaitz Azkue Muguruza would connect on a goal less than five minutes in thanks to a perfect set up from Ashley Casper. 

The Vikings would then get a corner in the 8th minute and convert, with Casper finding the back of the net herself as Elena Luján Rubio would send one in that the senior would redirect via header into the right side of the net for the 2-0 lead. 

Just after the ensuing kickoff, Bethany would quickly gain possession and Azkue would flip a pass over her head to Lujan Rubio who would dribble up the left side before firing just over the outstretched arms of the keeper to make things 3-0 in favor of Bethany.

The Vikings weren't done in the first half there though, as they would find the back of the net again in the 25th minute. Casper would control in the midfield and play a high ball into Mia Johnson who would one touch it to Reese Moorad in front of the net with Moorad knocking it into the left side of the net for the goal to make it 4-0. 

Northwestern would finally answer in the 33rd minute, as they would mount an attack and eventually fire a shot into the top left corner from the edge of the box to bring the deficit back to three goals and the team's would head to the half with the game 4-1.

The Eagles would get some good opportunities in the early goings of the second, firing four shots on net in the first 20 minutes and also hitting the post once, but Arayah Baker stood tall in net to maintain the three goal advantage. 

Azkue would then put the nail in the coffin with 10 minutes to play as the Vikings would get another corner and Lujan Rubio would find the senior for a header to bring the game to its final score of 5-1. 

Baker had a strong outing in net for Bethany, making seven saves in a contest that saw the Eagles put eight shots on net to just five for the Vikings.

The Vikings will now move on to take on UW-Superior on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the program's first ever conference championship contest.