TIGERS' HISTORIC SEASON ENDS IN NAIA SECOND ROUND WITH 2-0 LOSS TO BETHEL
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) (19-3-1, 10-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Bethel (IN) (16-2-3, 7-1-1) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The historic Olivet Nazarene University men's soccer season came to an end on Saturday when they fell to Bethel University (Ind.), 2-0, at Morey Field in the NAIA Men's Soccer Tournament Second Round. Despite recording three shots on goal, the Tigers were unable to find the back of the net, while the Pilots capitalized with two second-half goals to secure the victory.
The first half commenced with both teams actively seeking to establish control, but Olivet Nazarene created notable opportunities early on. Atjon Thaqi took a shot that was skillfully stopped by Bethel's Diego Arrieta with a defensive save. Shortly after, Gijs Van Den Berg generated a chance, but his attempt was saved by goalkeeper Maarten Schouten. The Pilots responded with offensive pressure, including a significant header by Eduardo Pedroza, which was saved by Cedric Kunzli, maintaining the deadlock. The half concluded with neither team finding the back of the net, leaving the score tied at 0-0.
Olivet faced a challenging second half as Bethel took control. Despite defensive efforts and not being able to capitalize on a couple of opportunities on offense, the Pilots broke through with a goal by Noe Ferreira, taking the lead. The Tigers attempted to respond, with shots from Thaqi and Nathan Schmidli, but both efforts were unsuccessful, with one saved by the Bethel goalkeeper.
Later in the half, Bethel extended their advantage with a second goal from Ferreira. The Tigers continued to press forward, but the final whistle saw the Pilots secure a 2-0 victory.
Thaqi took two shots, with one on goal. Van Den Berg also had a shot on goal, maintaining pressure on the opposing defense. Kai Bucher and Hooker led the team's defensive stand. Kunzli played the full match in goal, recording one save while allowing two goals.
After advancing to the second round of the national tournament for the first time since 2012, Olivet's season concludes with an overall record of 19-3-1.
--ONU--