Santa Ana, Calif. - Bethesda Christian University (1-0-0) scored two goals in the second half and defeated Arizona Christian University, 3-1, in Friday, Sept. 16 collegiate women's soccer action at Centennial Regional Park in Santa Ana, Calif. 

Arizona Christian (1-2-0) takes on Hope International University at Fullerton Junior College, Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1:00 p.m. Hope International will be a conference opponent for the Firestorm next season when ACU becomes the eighth member of the GSAC. 

Bethesda forward Maria Esther Aceves scored the match's first goal at 32:10, shooting a low hard shot from 15 feet in front of the goal into the lower right corner past ACU's freshman goalkeeper Kim Arias-Castro (Tolleson, Ariz./La Joya Community High School). ACU freshman forward Chelsea Ruland (Tucson, Ariz./Pusch Ridge Christian Academy) tied the match, 1-1, with a penalty kick at 38:36, her third goal of the season. Ruland, a two-time State 1-A/3-A Player of the Year with 109 career goals in high school, was fouled hard in the BCU penalty area, and after recovering her senses on the ground, buried her shot from 18-foot penalty line. Ruland attempted six of ACU's seven shots and all four of its shots on goal in the match. 

Bethesda, located in Anaheim, outshot ACU, 9-5, in the first half, and both goalkeepers, Arias- Castro for the Firestorm and Jennifer Agustiniano for the Flames, saved two shots on goal. However, in the second half, Bethesda shot 15 times, including nine shots on goal, while ACU managed just two shots, with just one on goal. Arias-Castro finished with 11 saves on 14 shots on goal, and Agustiniano finished with three saves on four ACU shots on goal.