Moreira Lifts Pilots to Season-Opening Victory
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Bethel College Pilots men’s soccer team opened their 2018 season on the road and rallied for a 3-2 victory over Cornerstone (Mich.) on Saturday afternoon. Senior Lucas Moreira provided the heroics with his first career multi-goal game, including the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute.
GAME VITALS
- Score: Bethel def. Cornerstone 3-2
- Records: Bethel (1-0-0) | Cornerstone (0-1-0)
- NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll: Bethel – not rated | Cornerstone – not rated
- Location: CU Soccer Field | Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids, Mich.
SCORING SUMMARY
- 12’ | Richard Areche (CU) | unassisted
- 27’ | Lucas Moreira (BC) | penalty kick
- 38’ | Jose Barquin (BC) | unassisted
- 71’ | James Pipe (CU) | assisted by Sebastian Ramos and Richard Areche
- 83’ | Lucas Moreira (BC) | assisted by Zac Schoon
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- The Pilots are 6-2-2 in their last nine season openers under head coach Thiago Pinto. Five of those ten season openers went into overtime.
- Lucas Moreira notched the multi-goal game of his career, with tallies in the 27’ and 83’.
- Zac Schoon recorded his first career assist, finding Moreira for the game-winning goal.
- The last time the Pilots defeated Cornerstone in their season opener—a 1-0 win on August 19, 2015—the Pilots went on to an NCCAA national championship game appearance.
QUOTES FROM COACH PINTO
- “Resilient win on the road to start the season. I thought we did well for great stretches of the game and have a lot we can build on from our performance. We look forward to kicking off our home schedule this coming week with two great games [against top 25 opponents].”
NEXT TIME OUT
- The Pilots take on No. 14 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) on Tuesday, August 21 at 5:00 pm in their 2018 debut at Morey Field on the campus of Bethel College.