ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Macalester women's soccer team came up with their first win on the season, defeating Bethel University on Wednesday night in rainy conditions at Macalester Stadium. This was Bethel's first loss on the year, as they came into the game with an 8-0 record, being ranked sixth in the region.
 
With the win, the Scots improve to 13-5-1 in their all-time series history with the Royals and are now 7-2 when playing Bethel at home. The win also breaks Macalester's three-game losing streak against the Royals.
 
Macalester got on the board early in the contest when sophomore Alice Bieda (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) took a pass from Georgia Kazemi (Missoula, Mont./Hellgate) and buried the ball in the back of the net to give the Scots a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. Bieda recorded her fifth goal of the season on the play and Kazemi tallied her first assist.
 
The game remained at 1-0 for about the next 25 minutes until Bethel evened it up on a penalty kick. After a Bethel teammate was fouled in the box, sophomore Rachel Waterman took the penalty kick and found the lower right of the net to even up the score at one apiece.
 
The Scots did not need long to answer Bethel's goal with one of their own, as first year Abby Ecker (Portland, Ore./St. Mary's Academy) scored her first collegiate goal in the 33^rd minute. Bieda started the play with a shot from outside the box that was saved by Bethel's goalie, but the ball got loose and Ecker was there to capitalize to put the Scots up 2-1.
 
Each team took one more shot in the half, but neither was on net, so the Scots brought their lead into the intermission.
 
The Royals increased their offensive intensity in the second half, taking 12 shots in the frame, but the Macalester defense came up in a big way, not allowing any of those to score. Goalkeeper Kate Lawhead (Battle Ground, Wash./Prairie) made six saves in the half to preserve the lead, including a diving save in the 69^th minute. The junior ended with seven total saves in the game, which ties her career high.
 
The Scots play next on Saturday, October 5^th when they travel to Carleton to face the Knights at 3:30 p.m. in Northfield. Live video and stat links for the game can be found on the schedule page.