MEN’S SOCCER

The #8 Bethel Pilots remained unblemished in league play Saturday afternoon at Morey Field by topping the #RV Huntington men’s soccer team 3-1. The Pilots’ record stands at 14-1-1 which includes a perfect 7-0-0 Crossroads League record.

The loss is HU’s first since September 28 as they drop to 10-5-1 overall, 3-3-1 in CL action. The Pilots have gotten the best of Huntington the last three times out.

Lawson’s crew struck first when Tiago Costa tracked down a rebound after a header from Higor Barbieri in the 18th minute. It was Costa’s seventh goal of the year and proved a short-lived advantage for the guests as Bethel’s equalizer came 14 minutes later.

The 1-1 stalemate held through intermission before the Pilots found back netting twice more in the final 45 minutes with the game-winner coming at the 66:34 mark while the insurance goal was netted with less than seven minutes remaining.

Shots were 23-2 in favor of the hosts with 15 of Bethel’s takes on frame while both of HU’s were on target.

“Bethel is well deserving of their No. 8 ranking,” said Coach Russ Lawson. “They are a very classy team, and they gave it to us.

“I liked our start – hitting them on the counter to go up 1-0. I thought we stayed organized the majority of the contest. We didn’t have possession like we wanted but we wanted to make it difficult on them and I thought we did that.”

Huntington will regroup between now and Wednesday when they host Saint Francis at 4:00 p.m.