Avila Earns Important Win Over Bethany

LINDSBORG, Kan. - Avila women's soccer (5-9-1, 5-4-1 KCAC) headed west to Lindsborg this weekend and spoiled the Homecoming weekend festivities at Bethany (1-11-1, 1-8-0 KCAC) by pulling out a crucial 2-1 win on Saturday afternoon.

This late in the season, with the KCAC women's soccer standings as tight as they are, every win is critically important. But Bethany was a team that had just won its first game of the season last time out, and with a couple tougher teams up next for Avila, this was a game the Eagles really needed to win.

And win it they did. It wasn't a surgical performance by Avila against one of the KCAC's basement dwellers, but it was good enough to earn the Eagles an important win that keeps them firmly in the league's top eight, and within the postseason picture with only three games still to play.

Avila started off extremely strong, forcing three saves out of veteran goalkeeper Mackenzie Nutter within the first 10-plus minutes of action before the Eagles finally chipped away enough to break through when veteran Miriam Solorio set up freshman Maddylen Farris for the game's first goal 12 minutes in. About 15 minutes later, the Eagles doubled their lead when Mia Yerian set up Aubrey Chaney for her second goal of the season, making it 2-0 Eagles.

But Bethany had a response: just about two minutes after Chaney's goal, Bethany got one back through Skyler Armstrong on the Swedes' first shot on goal of the game. The Swedes went with Molly Atchley in goal to start the second half and Avila pressured her immediately with shots from Farris and Megan Nugent, but Atchley held on to keep it a one-goal game.

On the other side, Avila went to Kenan Ebel in goal, her first start in a couple of weeks, and Ebel rose to the occasion, making three saves in total in the second half in an increasingly intense game. The Swedes kept searching for an equalizer, but Ebel and the Eagle defense held firm, keeping the Swedes without even a shot attempt for the final 12-plus minutes, and securing a tight 2-1 win.

Up next, Avila heads into its conference "bye week" – the Eagles are off on Wednesday before returning home to The Z for the final time this season in another important game against Tabor. It will be Senior Day for the Avila soccer programs against the Bluejays; the women will kick off the doubleheader at noon with the men to follow at 2:30. As always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network.