Pilots Avenge Early Season Loss, Earn Trip to National Semifinals
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Bethel College Pilots men’s soccer team avenged their early season loss to Campbellsville (Ky.) with a 2-1 victory in NCCAA National Championship Pool Play to win Pool C and earn a spot in the National Semifinal round on Friday. Isaac Nunez netted the game-winning goal with just over five minutes remaining of the physical rematch.
GAME VITALS
- Game Score: Bethel def. Campbellsville 2-1
- Records:Bethel (13-8-1) | Campbellsville (12-8-0)
- NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll:Bethel – not rated | Campbellsville – not rated
- Location: Austin-Tindall Complex | Kissimmee, Fla.
- Note: NCCAA National Championship Pool Play
SCORING SUMMARY
- 11’ – Troy Walters (CU) unassisted
- 33’ – Jose Barquin (BC) assisted by Richard Ontiveros
- 85’ – Isaac Nunez (BC) assisted by Jose Barquin
NEWS AND NOTES
- The match featured 10 total yellow cards and 22 total fouls called.
- Jose Barquin added a goal and an assist on the game-winner to give him a team-leading 16 points this season.
- Campbellsville defeated the Pilots 1-0 on September 21 this season at Morey Field and had won three straight against the Pilots before tonight’s final—including a 1-0 victory in NCCAA Pool Play last year to end the Pilots’ season short of the semifinal round.
- The Pilots advance to the final four of the NCCAA National Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons. In the previous three trips to the semifinal round, the Pilots advanced to the title game twice.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH PINTO:
- “Proud of how our team performed tonight. Many guys stepped up big for us tonight and we scored two great goals against a good, physical team. It is great for this team to play in the final four and we look forward to a great match on Friday.”
UP NEXT
- The Pilots will take on a familiar foe in the semifinal round, facing off with two-seed and Crossroads League rival Grace (Ind.) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Pilots will look to continue the trend of avenging earlier season defeats as the Lancers won the match in Winona Lake 2-0 on October 3.