It took some time, but the Bees found their footing. After not playing in 352 days, St. Ambrose opened their season with an 18-9 win over Bethel University Friday afternoon in Davenport.

With the game tied 8-8 at halftime, the Bees scored 10 goals while only allowing one to come away with the victory. Erin Green gave SAU a quick lead coming out of the halftime break, but Bethel answered with a goal of their own. St. Ambrose would go on a tear from there - scoring the next nine goals to account for the final score. Audrey Warner, Lauren Hoesly, Morgan Curzon, and McKenna Sears each scored in the half. Green added another, and Mackenzie Zions scored four of her six goals after the break. The defense from SAU balanced the offense as they only allowed nine shots in the second half.

St. Ambrose found themselves down two goals early, but Mackenzie Zions scored her first of the day off a feed from Claire Jeffers. Green converted a free position shot and then scored another off a Katie Baranski assist to give the Bees a one-goal lead. Bethel would go on to score four straight until Curzon found Warner for a man-up goal. The teams traded free position goals then SAU rallied off three straight to get an 8-7 lead. The Pilots would score a minute later for the 8-8 halftime score.

Zions scored her six goals on 10 shots, and Green scored four on five shots. Baranski led the Bees in assists with five. Maggie Samson was credited with seven saves on the day.

St. Ambrose will travel to William Penn on March 3rd for their first conference matchup. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.