ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — In a dramatic late rally on Monday afternoon, the Bethel University men's soccer team overcame a first-half deficit to secure a 2–1 comeback victory over UW–River Falls at Ona Orth Athletic Complex. The win lifts the Royals to 10–4-3 overall and marks their fourth straight victory at home.
The match opened with Bethel dictating tempo early, maintaining strong possession and building dangerous attacks through Jordan Ross and Nathan Hunt. Despite outshooting the Falcons 11–9 in the first half, Bethel couldn't convert their chances, and River Falls capitalized in the 40th minute when Danny Acevedo slipped in the opening goal. The Royals continued to push forward but went into halftime trailing 1–0.
After the break, Bethel came out with renewed urgency and a sharper attacking edge. The Royals poured on 18 second-half shots, consistently pressuring the Falcon back line. Midfielders Crioni Menendez and Roy Kyle helped orchestrate Bethel's offense, linking passes and setting up scoring opportunities, while defenders Jack Gerber and Carter Sheard helped keep River Falls without a shot on goal in the second frame.
The equalizer finally came in the 82nd minute, when Jordan Ross continued his outstanding season by finishing a composed strike inside the box — his 14th goal of the year — bringing the score level at 1–1. The goal energized the home crowd and the Royals' bench, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Just five minutes later, the comeback was complete. In the 88th minute, Dylan Magistad found himself in perfect position to slot home the game-winner — his first this season — giving Bethel a 2–1 lead and sending the Royals sideline into celebration. The defense held firm over the final moments, denying any late River Falls surge to seal the victory.
The Royals outshot the Falcons 29–11, including 7 shots on goal, and earned a 6–3 advantage in corner kicks, underscoring their offensive control. Bethel's resilience and late-game execution once again showcased their ability to respond under pressure.
With the win, Bethel reaches double-digit victories for the first time since 2019 and continues to build momentum heading into the final week of the regular season.
The Royals will look to close out conference play strong when they travel to Macalester College on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. for their regular-season finale.
