Grace’s Alexis Larimore works upfield against Bethel Wednesday night. (Photo by Sam Baker)

GRACE WOMEN 7, BETHEL 1

Grace’s women’s soccer team scored early and often on Wednesday to beat Bethel.

JJ Aalbue produced a goal and four assists to lead Grace to a 7-1 victory over Bethel at 1st Source Bank Field.

The Lady Lancers (11-1, 3-0 Crossroads League) extended their winning streak to seven straight games. Grace also sits alone atop the league standings as the only 3-0 team remaining.

The match started tamely enough with only two shot attempts in the opening 10 minutes. But that trend would not continue.

Grace pelted the Pilots consistently over the final 30 minutes, turning its next 10 shots into six goals.

Joana Schimmel created the first goal; she fired off two quick shots in the box, and the rebound fell to Alexis Larimore who netted from point-blank range.

Two minutes later, Grace struck again. Aalbue played a dangerous ball in front of the face of the goal, and Schimmel tapped in the ball for a 2-0 lead.

Aalbue earned her own goal at the 25:27 mark on a dizzying run and shot through the penalty box.

Aalbue was involved on three more goals before halftime. Grace’s fourth goal came from a set piece as Lea Moessinger and Aalbue combined to assist Corinne Villalobos at the 27:23 mark.

A few minutes after that, Aalbue led Cassidy Wasson with a pass in the middle of the penalty box, and Wasson took care of the rest with a goal.

The sixth and final goal of the half was a freshman connection. Aalbue laid off a pass to Taylor Fort, and the freshman blasted in her shot below the crossbar in the 42nd minute.

For the half, Grace held an 11-1 edge in shots and 4-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Neither team could find the back of the net for the first 25 minutes of the second half. Although Grace dominated time on the ball and had several chances, Bethel managed to score first.

The Pilots (3-9, 0-3 CL) scored in the 70th minute. It proved to be Bethel’s only shot on goal during the match.

The Lady Lancers were swift in response, marching down the field and adding a seventh goal. Fort passed to Baylei Peters, who scored two minutes after Bethel’s goal.

For the match, Grace outshot Bethel 20-2. The Lady Lancers also had the only seven corner kicks of the contest.

Kimberly Aalbue registered the victory in goal for Grace, playing her first collegiate minutes as goalkeeper.

BETHEL 2, GRACE 1 (OT)

The Grace College men’s soccer team came up just short of Crossroads League rival Bethel on Wednesday night, falling 2-1 in double overtime.

The Lancers (7-2-2, 1-1-1 CL) led 1-0 entering the final 25 minutes of regulation. But the Pilots (6-4-1, 3-0 CL) equalized in the second half and found the golden goal winner in the second overtime session.

Bethel opened up the game as the aggressor, firing off four shots in the first eight minutes.

Grace answered with a counter attack and were able to put two shots on the Bethel goalkeeper, but both attempts were handled easily.

The next 15 minutes were uneventful with neither team able to find any sort of sustained offensive pressure.

The Lancers finally scored to break the deadlock in the 39th minute with a goal from Marcelo Talamas. Cody Boerema played a beautiful ball forward to a streaking Talamas, and the junior continued his torrid goalscoring form by blasting a shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Lancers took that lead into the half despite trailing 9-6 in shot attempts. Grace goalkeeper Gonzalo Salo made three saves in the first 45 minutes.

The second half started as a midfield battle as both teams battled for possession.

The Lancers’ defense broke in the 66th minute; a misplayed ball resulted in the Pilots’ first goal to level the score.

Grace came within inches of taking back the lead in the 85th minute. Felipe Gruber fired off a hard shot from the top of the box that found the crossbar and bounced high out of play.

The Lancers finished the second half with a corner kick opportunity but were unable to capitalize, instead sending the game to overtime tied at 1-1.

Bethel forced the action early in the overtime period and had a trio of set piece opportunities, but the Lancers easily defended all three.

Ulisses Miranda had the best scoring chance of the first overtime period when he put a shot on goal, but his effort struck the left post and was cleared by the Bethel defense.

The rest of the overtime period was uneventful with neither team able to put a shot on goal.

The Pilots struck quick in the second overtime winning the game 2-1. The game winning goal was headed in off a free kick that just snuck by Salo.

Bethel was credited with a 20-11 advantage in shot attempts; nine of Grace’s 11 shots were on target.

Miranda had three shots on goal to lead all players, and Talamas and Gruber each shot twice.