They played them solid defensively, but the Bethel girls’ soccer team could not muster anything on the offensive end, as they lost to the area’s #3 ranked West Liberty Salem Tigers 2-0 last week in a non-conference game.

The Tigers netted a goal in each half, and made it stand up for the victory.

“They are a very good team, hats off to them,” said Bethel coach Dru Bescoe. “I really thought we could play with them, it was just a couple of mental mistakes. We are kind of young in the back and they capitalized. We gave them the far post and they took it, they are a good team.”

Molly McKenny’s floater went just high for the Bees in a shot attempt 15 minutes into the game, and eight minutes later, the Tigers broke the scoreless tie.

Taylor Loack scored against Bethel keeper Kelsey Hackney to give West Liberty Salem the 1-0 lead with 17:15 left in the first half.

Bethel nearly had a breakaway in the second half as Gabrielle Behr took control of the ball ahead of the defenders, but the Tigers keeper turned the Bees away, keeping them with a one-goal deficit.

Dierdre McGill gave the Tigers some breathing room with a goal at the 6:46 mark of the second half, and that was all they would need as they got the victory.

“Kelsey Hackney is one of the best keepers in the entire area, and she does a good job organizing the back and it’s tough to get one by her,” Bescoe said. “There was not a whole lot she could do tonight.”

While the Bees defense did a nice job controlling the Tigers offense, it was the Bees scoring chances that were few and far between tonight.

“We have been struggling with that, we need to find some goal scorers,” Bescoe said. “We tried to put Olivia Rust up there and that was the first time she has played there.”

“We can score against the teams who are below us, but we need to be able to score against the teams who matter in the tournament. We have yet to do that.”

*Bethel came back and defeated National Trail, as Erica Turner scored a hat trick for Bethel, while Rust added goal. Also on Saturday, Bethel lost 1-0 to Newton.

Bethel Boys Soccer- Yellow Springs defeated Bethel 6-2 last week in a non-conference match. Tyler Brueckman and Korry Hamlin each scored for the Bees, while each an assist.

“This was not a 6-2 type of game, we fought hard tonight,” Bethel coach Bob Hamlin said.

*Bethel also lost to Catholic Central 2-0.

*It was a solid win on Thursday to get the Bees back on the winning track, as they defeated National Trail 12-0. Hamlin scored three goals with four assists for the Bees, while Daniel Ross and Brueckman each scored twice and added two assists.

Scoring one goal each for Bethel was Aiden Flomerfelt, Ben Lawson, Luke Moorefield, Alex vanHaaren, and Joe Miller. Adding assists were Flomerfelt, Kyle Smith and Jordan Donthnier.

*Bethel also defeated Newton on Saturday 1-0, as they scored early in the match on a goal from Hamlin.

“We played a smart, tactical soccer game today,” Bob Hamlin said. “We were composed and the defense stepped up in this big league battle.”

Alex van Haaren picked up the shutout for the Bees.