Mishawaka, Ind. - The Marian women's soccer team saw their four-match unbeaten streak come to an end Tuesday night, as the Bethel Pilots handed the Knights a 3-1 defeat in a match made up from Saturday afternoon's postponement. The loss drops Marian to 9-2-3 overall on the season, and 2-2-2 in Crossroads League play.

Marian opened the game on the offensive, with Kylie Conrad taking the night's first shot on goal in the fourth minute. Marian continued to own possession as Gretchen Mallin lined up five corner kicks in a span of 10 minutes, and Lexi Curry and Mallin each took a shot attempt, but the earlier attack on the Bethel defense came up without a goal. Conrad and Olivia Parmer would each add a shot attempt before the clock had shown 20 minutes expired, however no score came from the Knights.

Bethel would take their first shot of the game in the 26th minute as Leena Thomas fired on Lily Ames, as the freshman keeper for the Knights made her first save of the match in her first collegiate start. The Pilots would get another shot on goal that was saved by Ames a few moments later, and with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the home team broke the scoreless contest with an Audrey Lerch goal. Bethel played a ball deep past the last line of the Marian defense to the right side of the box, where Chloe Crompton was able to connect one final pass to Lerch, scoring a header on the opposite side of the goal of Ames mark in net.

Neither team managed a shot attempt for the duration of the half, and the Knights entered the break trailing 1-0.

Looking to come out with a quick score after the intermission, Marian pestered the Pilots defensive line early, trying to flood the box for a goal. Delaney Taylor took the first shot of the second half, with Marian retaining possession after the ball caromed off the keepers mitts. The loose ball eventually found it's way to Mallin, who sent a cross in from the right corner to Parmer. The freshman booted the ball through to Katie Koger, who came flying in and leveled the score in the 50th minute at 1-1.

Despite the score, the Knights were unable to keep momentum on their side as Bethel answered the score with one of their own in the 56th minute. The Knights failed to clear the ball outside of their goal area, and with the Pilots maintaining possession, they were able to connect a pass to Giulia Franco, as the striker curved a long shot into the goal over the top of Ames' head.

Trailing 2-1, Marian did all they could to try and find an equalizing goal, however multiple offside flags and shots from Taylor and Grace Crawford were unable to get to the back of the goal. The score held at as a one-goal difference until the 83rd minute, when Bethel's Audrey Lerch was the recipient of a breakaway goal, racing from midfield past the last line of the Marian defense to put the game away with the Pilots on top 3-1.

The score would hold as a 3-1 final, as shot attempts from Taylor and Parmer in the final six minutes were saved by Jael Schubert of Bethel. Marian ended the match with a 13-7 shot advantage, with Taylor taking a match-high four for Marian. Parmer finished with three shot attempts and one on goal, while Koger scored on her only look on goal. Ames suffered her first defeat of the season in goal, allowing three scores to four made saves.

Marian will look to rebound on Saturday afternoon when they travel to St. Francis for a 2 p.m. matchup with the Cougars.

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