SUPERIOR, Wis. — Bethany Lutheran's student-athletes earned a crucial 2-1 conference victory Friday at Wis.-Superior, bouncing back from a lopsided loss earlier in the week. The Vikings improved to 9-7-2 overall with the road win, while the host Yellowjackets fell to 8-7-4 after dropping their second consecutive match.
Riley Ping opened scoring for Bethany Lutheran in the 9th minute, giving the visitors an early advantage. The Vikings maintained their lead through halftime despite Wis.-Superior's sustained offensive pressure. Elena Luján Rubio extended the lead to 2-0 in the 47th minute, putting the visiting student-athletes in control heading into the final stretch.
Wis.-Superior mounted a late comeback attempt, with Niamh Larson converting in the 88th minute to cut the deficit in half. The hosts pressed for an equalizer in the match's final moments, but Bethany Lutheran's defense held firm to secure the three points.
Bethany Lutheran's goalkeeper made five saves to preserve the victory, while Wis.-Superior's keeper recorded nine stops despite the loss. The Vikings dominated possession metrics, earning three corner kicks compared to one for the Yellowjackets. Bethany Lutheran also held a 7-10 advantage in shots on goal.
The visiting student-athletes showed resilience after suffering an 8-0 conference defeat to UW-River Falls on Tuesday. This victory demonstrates the character of Bethany Lutheran's program, which competes without athletic scholarships in NCAA Division III's demanding