ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — The No. 3 Bethel Pilots (16-3-3) saw the conclusion of their season on Monday afternoon in the NAIA Round of 16, falling 1–0 to the Indiana Tech Warriors (18-4-1) at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.
The Pilots controlled long stretches of the match, generating 12 total shots and an impressive 11 corner kicks, but were unable to convert their chances.
Indiana Tech’s Joao Gustavo capitalized on one of the Warriors’ few opportunities, scoring in the 53rd minute following service from Tramaine Lawson.
Following that goal, Bethel continued to apply pressure throughout the second half. Lucas Lima created multiple looks with four shot attempts, but the equalizer remained out of reach for the Pilots.
Goalkeeper Maarten Schouten recorded two key saves, directing a back line that allowed just six total shots all match.
A late red card to Eduardo Pedroza in the 82nd minute forced Bethel to play the final stretch with ten men, but the Pilots continued pressing until the final whistle.
The loss concludes a standout season for Bethel, one that included a Crossroads League Regular Season Title, a Crossroads League Tournament Title, a Top-3 national ranking, and the opportunity to compete at the NAIA’s final site.
The Pilots finish the year at 16-3-3, marking an accomplished campaign in program history.