MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Lady Wildcat soccer team looked to upend William Carey for the first time in program history Saturday afternoon when they played host to the visitors from Hattiesburg in Wildcat Stadium. The Lady Crusaders denied that bid with a 5-1 victory.
Bethel's Jodi Butler gave the Cats a 1-0 lead at the 34:30 mark of the first period. It was her sixth goal of the season. It was a short-lived lead as WCU's Silvia Leonessi scored less than a minute later to tie the match. WCU took the lead at the 26:42 mark on a goal by Ana Paula Santos. She scored again on an assist from Leonessi with 19:51 left in the period. WCU took a 4-1 lead with 4:03 on a score by Yolanda Bonnin. The Crusaders led by that score at the end of one.
William Carey added to their lead at 5-1 in the second period with a goal by Itzayanna Gracis with 32:07 left in the game.
WCU had a 17-5 advantage in shots and a 12-2 margin in shots on goal.
Bethel dropped to 5-2-1 and 0-1 in league play. No. 2 WCU moved to 9-1 and 1-0. William Carey leads the series 10 -0 and is 3-0 in McKenzie.
Bethel returns to action next Saturday traveling to Mobile for a 1:30 p.m. match-up with the Rams.
