No. 13 Bethel Advances to NAIA Round of 16 After Overtime Thriller with No.17 Indiana Tech

MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- In the NAIA 13th ranked Bethel Pilots (13-5-2) third consecutive year hosting the NAIA First and Second Round, the Pilots defeated the #17 Indiana Tech Warriors (13-2-5) 1-0 in overtime by senior Thiago dos Santos with his first goal this season.

The first-half possession was back-and-forth despite the Warriors firing five shots to Bethel's two, but the wet and muddy field conditions were clear, with many slipping through passes.

Bethel had back-to-back corner opportunities in the eighth minute that were cleared away, and senior keeper Benjamin Venegas had an early save in the 11th minute to keep the match scoreless.

Manuel Garcia had the first scoring opportunity for the Pilots in the 15th minute that was saved, then Indiana Tech fired from the top of the box and was blocked in the 17th minute.

In the 42nd minute, Bethel had a goal that was called back due to being offside where a cross found the boot of a group of three Pilots, but the Warriors took the last shot of the half in the 43rd minute before the clock expired, going into halftime 0-0.

The Pilots dominated possession in the second half, firing 16 shots, including a stretch of four shots booted in the 79th minute by dos Santos that was blocked, the 80th minute by Manuel Garcia that was blocked, Miguel Martins in the 81st minute that was saved and again in the 81st by Diego Arrieta that missed high.

Indiana Tech again had the last move with a shot in the 90th minute and a final corner that was cleared to force overtime for the first time in the past four years for the Pilots in the NAIA First and Second Round.

The first shot opportunity was in the 96th minute by dos Santos after Sami Charaf Amal crossed it and connected with dos Santos for the win. Charaf Amal earned his 13th assist this season, along with dos Santos scoring his first goal this season.

The Pilots will go to the NAIA National Tournament final site for the third consecutive year and will make the trip back to Wichita, Kan., at the Scheels Stryker Soccer Complex to face #5 William Penn in the Round of 16 and avenge their loss to the reigning NAIA National Champions, MidAmerica Nazarene, last season. The Round of 16 will play on Mon. Dec. 2 with the time TBA.

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