WINFIELD, Kan.—The Southwestern College women's soccer team hits the road Saturday morning for its sixth Conference matchup, taking on Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. as the Moundbuilders aim to keep their strong conference form rolling.
Southwestern (2-4-2, 2-1-2 KCAC) is looking to rebound quickly after a midweek setback at Oklahoma Wesleyan. Prior to Wednesday's loss, the Builders had gone unbeaten in four straight conference matches, including dominant performances in a 5–0 win over Sterling and a shutout victory against York.
The Moundbuilders have been steadily improving on the offensive end, netting nine goals this season on a .170 shot percentage, nearly double their opponents' rate. Junior Millie Hazzard leads the way with two goals and two assists, pacing the team with six points. Kaitlyn Walker has added two goals and an assist, while Shaylona Rollings, Sarah Hobrecht, Kara Medina, Natalie Belanger, and Abigail Webb have each chipped in key tallies throughout the year.
Southwestern has outshot opponents in terms of efficiency, putting 56.6% of its attempts on frame compared to Bethel's 45.3%. The Moundbuilders have scored five first-half goals this season, often setting the tone early. Defensively, goalkeeper Hayden Clark has been a standout, making 63 saves with an impressive .840 save percentage across eight matches. Her efforts have helped the Builders post three shutouts so far.
The Threshers (1-7-2, 1-4 KCAC) enter the weekend coming off their first win of the season, a 2–1 result over Sterling on Wednesday. Offensively, Bethel has found the net just six times in nine matches, averaging 0.67 goals per game. Defensively, they've conceded 32 goals, the highest total in the KCAC, with opponents averaging 3.56 goals per contest. Malayasia Larque leads Bethel with three goals on 29 shots, but she will be facing a disciplined Southwestern back line that has held opponents to a .094 shot conversion rate.
History is firmly on Southwestern's side. Since the series began in 2005, the Moundbuilders hold a 16-3-2 advantage over Bethel, including a 9-2 record in North Newton. Southwestern is unbeaten in the last 10 meetings (9-0-1), highlighted by a 7–1 rout in 2023. Last year's contest ended in a 1–1 draw in Winfield, with the Builders scoring in the second half to secure the point.
A victory on Saturday would further solidify Southwestern's position in the KCAC standings as the conference schedule nears its midpoint. For Bethel, the game represents an opportunity to build on rare positive momentum. For the Builders, it's a chance to continue a historical run of dominance against a familiar foe.
