Caroline Maher scored a pair of goals on Friday afternoon, including the game-winner late in regulation, as the Buena Vista women's soccer team notched a thrilling 2-1 season opening road victory at Bethany Lutheran.

Maher put BVU in front midway through the first half on an unassisted goal, and that's the way things stood until the late stages of the contest.

The Vikings tied things up with just under four minutes to go on a penalty kick before Maher gave BVU the lead right back just over a minute later on a feed from Rachel Tice which proved to be the game-winner.

It was Maher's fourth career multi-goal game as she now has 33 career goals.  She finished the contest with a match-high eight shots (six on-goal).  McKenna Whitehill had three shots (two on-goal) as BVU ended with 21.

Rachel Novotny was solid in front of the net, allowing just the one late goal while posting four saves.

The two teams had played to a 2-2 (2OT) draw a year ago with the Vikings edging BVU, 2-1, in Mankato two seasons ago.

Buena Vista sits 1-0 and returns to action on Tuesday night when it plays its home opener against Martin Luther at 5:00pm.