Kansas Wesleyan University's soccer teams defeated Bethany College Sunday.
Leoni Enzlmuller (FR/Linz, Austria)'s interception of a Bethany pass and shot from 35 yards for a goal proved to be the deciding factor as the Kansas Wesleyan Women's Soccer team beat the Swedes 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Graves Family Sports Complex.
The win boosted Wesleyan's record to 8-4-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the Kansas Conference, while Bethany fell to 2-10-1 overall and 2-5-1 in the KCAC. Wesleyan is unbeaten in its last six matches, going 5-0-1 over that stretch, and allowing only two goals over the same span.
Enzlmuller's goal came in the 61st minute after a KWU foul. Bethany played the free kick over the middle and the pass meant for the backs was picked off by Enzlmuller who then shot from 35 yards out over Bethany keeper Paige Ellis's head and in.
The first half was scoreless despite KWU having a 6-0 advantage in shots at the break.
Wesleyan's defense not challenged in the match, although Bethany did have three shots, only one on frame, on a long shot that was easily saved by keeper Daisy Bingham (SR/Huntington Beach, Calif.) for the Coyotes.
Enzlmuller nearly had another goal in the 77th minute hitting the crossbar with a header on corner set piece and Destiny Shaughnessy (FR/Redlands, Calif.) nearly scored on the play as well with the ball loose in front of the goal but she could not sneak it through the group of players in front of goal.
KWU outshot Bethany 12-3 in the match. Enzlmuller had four shots to lead the Coyotes. Allison Blumenthal (SO/Temecula, Calif.) and Daisy Bingham split time in goal for the shutout.
Coyote men
Alfonso Lopez (JR/Fontana, Calif.) scored a second match winning goal for the Kansas Wesleyan Men's Soccer team in as many matches as the Coyotes beat the Bethany Swedes 2-1 on Sunday at the Graves Family Sports Complex.
The winner by Lopez came in the 82nd minute of the match after a foul against Bethany just outside the penalty area. Lopez lined up the direct kick from 20 yards out and bent it around the Bethany wall of defenders and inside the right post past keeper Juan Pablo for the Swedes who was unable to make a play on the ball.
Wesleyan had a few earlier chances at goals in the first half. A shot by Ivis Gutierrez (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) was saved off the line by a Bethany defender after Pablo had come off his line to try to play the ball in the box. Lopez also had another chance on a direct kick in the 43rd but Pablo made an outstanding diving save on the play.
The match would go to the half scoreless.
Ivis Gutierrez would put the Coyotes ahead 1-0 in the 48th minute off an assist from Luis Simbron (SR/Miami, Fla.). Simbron played the ball almost to the end line on the right side of the penalty area and sent the ball back to Gutierrez at point blank range in front of goal for the score.
Mauricio Palomino would net the equalizer for Bethany in the 55th minute.
Wesleyan tried to regain the lead quickly after the equalizer but shots by Simbron and Lopez were stopped.
David Bellin (SR/Berlin, Germany) had a great look at a goal in the 80th minute only to end up unlucky on the try.
Then in the 82nd it was Lopez who put the Coyotes up with the direct kick goal.
The victory, the second in a row for the Coyotes, improved Wesleyan's record to 3-10-1 overall and 2-6 in the KCAC, while Bethany fell to 5-8 overall, 1-7 in the conference. It was also the 20th consecutive win for the Coyotes over Bethany, a streak dating back to 2005.
The Coyotes outshot Bethany 16-13 in the match. Lopez led the way with seven shots, five on goal. Oswaldo Diaz-Lopez (FR/Bryan, Texas) had three saves for the Coyotes in goal.