PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — It was another NAIA Top 25 match-up on the turf of the MOBA Soccer Complex with the #5 Bethel Pilots (3-0-2) looking for redemption facing #21 Rio Grande (1-2-1) after a 2-2 tie on Saturday to #12 Keiser and protect their spot in the NAIA Coaches Poll.
The Pilots worked quickly with Manuel Garcia leading Sami Charaf Amal into the box for a great look in the box for the first goal in the sixth minute. Abdon Ortiz drew a foul in the box to force a penalty kick that was taken by Piero Sabroso and punched in right to give BU a big 2-0 advantage going into the half.
With the Red Storm looming to eliminate the shutout, Mathis Neuhaus had a great save in the 80th minute by a second touch shot to preserve the clean sheet, but Rio Grande hit a goal off a penalty kick in the 89th minute. Sabroso killed time battling two defenders in the Rio Grande corner and secured the 2-1 victory.
The Pilots are undefeated against the Red Storm, both at neutral sites, when their first win came in the semi-final of the 2022 NAIA National Tournament in Decatur, Ala. with a 2-1 win to eventually win the 2022 NAIA National Championship against Mobile (Ala.).
Redshirt Sophomore Neuhaus is now 2-0-2 on the season and 1-0-0 in his career against the Red Storm.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots host the Madonna Crusaders (Mich.) for Alumni Day at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Morey Field. See bupilots.com for how to watch.