MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- Every Bethel athlete was present in an NAIA Top 15 matchup with the #6 Bethel Pilots hosting the #13 MidAmerica Christian Evangels at Morey Field on Thursday night for the first match of the Fall Classic and first All-Athlete game on campus.

The Pilots only allowed two shots by the Evangels in the first half but the possession was held by MACU early on while the Pilots put up six.

In the 46th minute, the Evangels made quick work with the ball and Jair Estrada found Enzo Nogue for the first goal of the match, but Miguel Martins connected with Diego Arrieta in the 58th minute to even the score 1-1. 

After Arrieta's goal, Jovaunn Ramos had an opportunity in the 71st minute that missed high and Andres Gonzalez Maza missed wide right in the 72nd minute with the chance at the lead.

Ramos later put a ball on goal that was saved by MACU's Claudio Fuentealba in the 87th minute but the Evangels had their last chance at avoiding the tie in the 90th minute off a corner kick by Christian Federico Palacios and seconds later Jimmy Cabrera but it was not enough to find a look before the time expired.

"It was a very competitive and well played game tonight," said head coach Thiago Pinto, "we had good stretches of possession and could have been a bit more ruthless with the chances we created, but that is the game. We can learn from these type of games as these are the national tournament games we will face."

The Pilots are now 0-0-1 against the Evangels as they hunt for their fourth-straight trip to the NAIA National Championship in Wichita, Kan.


NEXT TIME OUT

The Pilots host the William Woods Owls for the second match of the Fall Classic on Saturday, Aug. 24 with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. at Morey Field. 

For more information about Bethel Pilots Athletics check out bupilots.com or on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube by searching @bupilots or the hashtag #AnchorUp for updates on all 31 Bethel Pilots sports.