The Gustavus women’s soccer team defeated the Bethel Royals 3-1 behind a hat trick from junior Chelsea Craven. After falling behind 1-0, Craven and the Gusties scored three unanswered goals to get the victory. Senior Ashley Ohlson got the win in goal for Gustavus recording three saves to improve to 4-4-2 on the season. Last week, she moved into third place in Gustavus all-time history in minutes played passing Tori Boughten. With the win, Gustavus moves to 5-6-2 overall (3-3-1 in the MIAC), while Bethel falls to 6-6-1 overall (1-6-1 in the MIAC).
The Royals took an early 1-0 lead as Brittany Griffore got a pass from Sophie Christiansen and beat Ohlson with shot to lower left corner at 24:57 of the first half. A minute later, Craven stole the ball from a Bethel player at midfield and used a quick burst of speed to beat the last defender around the corner and fired a shot from just inside the box that beat goalkeeper Charli Sorenson to the right side of the goal tying the game at one. The half ended with the score still tied at one. Gustavus held a 6-2 advantage in shots at the half. The Gusties have outshot their opponents 60-23 during their seven-game home stand, where they have gone 3-1-0.
In the second half, sophomore Nicole Kwapick ripped a shot that Sorenson made the initial save on, but dropped the ball. Craven, who charged the net for a rebound, was in perfect position to get the ball. She got the ball to her right foot and took a quick shot that bounced off the left post and into the back of the net for a 2-0 Gustavus lead at 69:00. With only 3:21 remaining in the match Craven got the ball on a long through pass from senior Christy Tupy and beat the Royal defender to the ball and on another clear breakaway. Her shot beat the oncoming Sorenson to the right corner for the first Gustavus hat trick since Samantha Engh scored four goals against Bethel in 2003. Craven had a chance for her fourth goal of the match when she was one-on-one with Sorenson, but decided to pass across the goal to Kwapick, who had her shot sail just wide of the goal. Craven now has tallied a team-leading six goals on the season. Sorenson finished the match with three saves for the Royals and drops to 5-5-1 on the season.
The Gusties will enjoy some time off as they play their next game at home next Saturday, October 18 against the Wildcats from the College of St. Catherine. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.