ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The No. 23-ranked Carleton College women's soccer team saw its nine-game win streak snapped with a 2-1 loss at Bethel University. The result dropped the Knights (12-2-2, 8-1-1 MIAC) out of a first-place tie in the MIAC standings and into third place heading into the final week of the regular season.
 
Carleton was clearly the aggressor, finishing with a 24-6 advantage in shot attempts and a 16-3 edge in corner kicks. The Knights were credited with possession 64 percent of the time. Bethel (3-12-2, 3-6-1 MIAC), however, capitalized on a pair of counterattack opportunities, scoring once in each half. The Royals improved to 5-25-3 all-time versus the Knights.
 
The Knights took 10 of the game's first 11 shots, but it was the Royals who opened the scoring, finding the back of the net in the 37th minute, when Sara Motalebi lobbed a pass over the Carleton backline that Malia Beilby ran onto before slotting the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper Avery Trapp. That tally snapping Carleton's team record 679:42 shutout streak spanning eight games. It was the first goal surrendered by the Knights since Sept. 24 (see chart below). It was also only the third time this season that Carleton trailed at any point in a game.
 
The Knights ramped up the offensive pressure after intermission and were rewarded in the 57th minute. Sam Gotch sent a corner kick to the far post where Lily Shure volleyed a shot that was initially saved but not controlled by Bethel goalkeeper Autumn Maki. Lauren Caldwell guided the ball over the line for her fourth goal of the season.
 
Despite continued pressure from the Knights, the Royals found the go-ahead goal in the 77th minute. A looped ball over the top found Motalebi, who cut inside before firing a 20-yard shot over the goalkeeper and under the crossbar to retake the lead for Bethel.
 
Carleton had a chance for the equalizer in the 84th minute, but Maki dove to her right to deny the Knights' penalty kick.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton heads to University of Wisconsin-Platteville, for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference tilt on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
 
Longest Shutout Streaks by Carleton Defense (since 1992)
679:42  --  Sept. 24-Oct. 25 (spanning 9 games)
535:95  --  Sept. 30-Oct. 3-24, 2009 (spanning 6 games)
521:47  --  Oct. 14-Nov. 4, 2006 (spanning (7 games)
518:24  --  Oct. 15-Nov. 1, 2014 (spanning 6 games)
492:27  --  Nov. 1-22, 2008 (spanning 7 games)
448:44  --  Aug. 31-Sept. 16, 2016 (spanning 6 games)
433:16  --  Sept. 16-Oct. 6, 2012 (spanning 5 games)