MEN’S SOCCER – Coffey Break

In the all-important race to the top of the conference standings, the HU men’s soccer team (6-3-2) fell victim to top-seeded Bethel 3-2 Saturday afternoon at King Stadium. With this win, the Pilots (7-1-1, 6-1-1) hold on to the #1 spot in the CL standings while Huntington slips from tied for second to third with a 4-2-2 league record.

With the recent shuffling of league schedules for COVID-related reasons, this weekend was the Foresters’ last regular season match. IWU is the only conference team Huntington will not face in the regular season. The Wildcats, with a 4-1-2 CL record, are sitting in the No. 2 spot with Goshen yet to play.

Saturday was just the third time this season HU has given up multiple goals in a game. The Pilot wasted no time getting on the scoreboard to start both halves. Within the first two-and-a-half minutes, Matheus Santiago scored his first of two goals to quickly give the visitors the advantage.

But as Forester fans have come to expect, there’s no quit in Lawson’s crew. They battled back with the pay-off coming in the 37th minute off a restart. James Lighton, just shy of midfield, launched a bomb into the box that Josh Erlandson got his head on for his first collegiate goal to make for a 1-1 deadlock heading into intermission.

Unfortunately, it was short-lived as Bethel needed less than 30 seconds in the second frame to regain the lead at 2-1. Santiago tacked on another quick score five minutes later for what proved the game-winner.

All the action was in the first ten minutes of the second period as Erlandson was back it for the Foresters at the 54-minute mark. The sophomore defender got his head on another ball, this time on a long inbounds pass from Camden Dice, to pull his team within one at 3-2.

Huntington would rip off three more shots on goal over the final 35 minutes but couldn’t slip one into the back of the net to send Bethel home with the victory.

Gabe Greenfield took the loss in net. The senior keeper collected four saves on the afternoon.

The Crossroads League tourney kicks off on November 7.