MISHAWAKA, Ind. — Manuel Garcia scored a hat trick for the first time in a Pilot uniform in the NAIA third-ranked Bethel Pilots (9-2-2, 2-2-0) win over the Saint Francis Cougars at Morey Field among the homecoming festivities on campus Saturday night.
Garcia scored the first goal of the game in the 10th minute from a double assist by Miguel Martins’ pass to Sami Charaf Amal who connected with Garcia for his third goal of the season. He followed with a chip shot over the Cougar keeper who committed to the top of the box and allowed Garcia’s and the Pilots’ second goal, then the hat trick was completed in the 34th minute from Charaf Amal again to gain a first-half 3-0 lead. Garcia ended the night with five goals this season.
In the 45th minute and the half ticking away, Julian Vargas Talamantes scored unassisted not long after checking in for his second goal of the season.
NEXT TIME OUT
With the Pilots tied with the Grace Lancers for sixth place in the Crossroads League standings, the next opponent is the NAIA fifth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. at the IWU Soccer Field in Marion, Ind., with the next NAIA Coaches Poll released on Oct. 9. Stay tuned to bupilots.com and on social media @BUPilots for more information on where the Wildcats and Pilots stand on the national stage going into the match up.