STERLING, Kan. — Sterling defeated Bethany 2-0 on Wednesday in conference play. The Warriors scored both goals in the first half and held Bethany (KS) scoreless over 90 minutes. The Warriors’ goalkeeper made five saves to record the shutout, and finished with nine shots and three shots on goal.
Sterling moved in front early when Gianna Randall scored off April Isbell‘s assist at 6:29, giving the Warriors a 1-0 lead after a stretch of set-piece pressure. Before the goal, the Lady Warriors earned corner kicks from Isbell at 4:13 and 6:03, with Randall putting a shot wide between them, after Bethany had two early attempts miss the frame. The Lady Swedes generated four shots from 28:55 through 36:33, but Bella Duckworth made three saves during that stretch as the Warriors remained ahead 1-0. Sterling doubled the margin at 41:38 when Marley Burgess-Duquette scored from Kaylynn Cline‘s assist, and the half ended with the Warriors ahead 2-0.
The Lady Warriors kept the Swedes off the board in a scoreless second half while producing the stronger late push with the match at 2-0. Isbell served a corner in the 48th minute and Vivian Ramirez followed with a shot wide, while Duckworth made saves on Bethany’s attempts in the 51st and 75th minutes. The Lady Warriors built sustained pressure from 74:37 to 81:39, getting shots from Sheridan Nguyen, Ramirez, Preslie Reffel and Burgess-Duquette, with Reffel’s effort saved by Marie Miera Y Moseley. Sterling also added three corner kicks between 78:43 and 85:20, all taken by Cheyenne Siler, before Bethany earned two late corners in the final minute but could not change the scoreless half.
Randall scored on one of her two shots and was credited with the game-winning goal. Burgess-Duquette added a goal on two shots, putting one attempt on frame. Duckworth made five saves over 90 minutes and finished with a shutout.
Up next, the Lady Warriors (3-3, 1-0) host the No. 14 ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan (2-2-2, 1-0) on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
