The Bethel men's soccer team played to a dominant 5-2 victory over the Concordia College Cobbers that saw four different attackers add to the final score. The win moves the Royals to 6-3-0 in the MIAC and 10-6-0 overall as they head into their next matchup against No. 5 rated Gustavus Adolphus College.
How It Happened:
- The Royals were the first to break onto the scoreboard at 23:13 after Eli Duke won a scrappy battle in front of the Cobber net, knocking the ball into the goal whilst tangling with a Cobber defender. Bereket Bereketab had put him in prime position to score after making a short pass across the front of the net for Duke to tap in.
- But the Cobbers mustered a response, scoring in the 37th minute, which sent the teams to the half tied at 1-1. Just 47 seconds into the second half, they scored again, taking the lead for the first time in the match.
- Still, the Royals wouldn't go down without a fight. In the 60th minute, Duke sent the ball into the middle of the box off of a corner kick, and when the Cobber goalkeeper gave up a rebound, Dylan Magistad headed the ball back towards the net. Will Swanda knocked the ball in – also with his head – to equalize the game at twos all around.
- An unfortunate error on the Cobbers' part led to an own goal just 20 seconds later, giving the Royals a 3-2 advantage.
- Not content to win off of a mistake by the other team, the Royals continued to rally. Taking advantage of another set piece, they converted on another corner kick as the kick, taken by Roy Kyle, landed at the feet of Jordan Oberholtzer, who served it up in the air for Jack Gerber to bury for his own header goal at 63:22.
- Proving incredibly formidable inside the 18-yard-box, the Royals notched their fifth and final goal of the night on a play that began as a throw-in deep in the attacking third. Duke got his foot on the ball and sent it skidding into thick traffic in the 6-yard-box, where Carter Sheard drilled it home for the final goal at 72:17.
What's Next:
The Royals' next opponent will certainly pose a challenge – they'll head home to Ona Orth Athletic Complex this Saturday, Oct. 26, to take on the No. 5 ranked Gustavus Adolphus College Gusties. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
