Decatur, Alabama --- The 2022 NAIA National Tournament in Decatur, Alabama, is set, and the #6 Bethel Pilots will face #5 Georgia Gwinnett, whose only two losses were to Mobile when they were ranked #1 in the NAIA and Bellevue in the Continental Athletic Conference Championship.
Gwinnett faced Vanguard (Calif.) in the NAIA First Round and won 2-0 by an early goal by Diego Milessi in the 17th minute and Juan Cruz Parisi Sitjar in the 21st minute.
In the NAIA Second Round, the Grizzlies defeated #15 Columbia (Mo.) 2-1 in double overtime. Karim Tmimi scored unassisted in the 34th minute to get the early lead. Still, Aleksandar Rajkovic won the game in the 110th minute to send Georgia Gwinnett to the Jack Allen Soccer Complex.
PILOTS REVIEW
- Luan Bressy and Piero Sabroso lead the team in goals with 19 and 11, respectively, and seven game-winners between the two.
- The Pilots have outscored their opponents 69-17 and shot 62% on goal as a team.
- Senior Finn Popescu has 11 shutouts in 23 starts and a record of 17-1-1.
SCOUTING GEORGIA GWINNETT
- Senior Karim Tmimi accounts for 18 of the 58 goals scored and has 10 assists for the Grizzlies.
- Sophomore Ron Boaz and freshman Andreas von Muecke split time this season in the net, but Muecke has started the last eight games with a 6-1-1 record.
- The Grizzlies average 3.2 goals per game and shoot 50% on frame.
The Grizzlies and Pilots will square off for the first time at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex in Decatur, Alabama, on Dec. 1, with kickoff set for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
For the latest information on each of Bethel University's 31 intercollegiate athletic teams, visit BUPilots.com or follow the Pilots on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BUPilots or YouTube at /BethelSportsNetwork.
