Kansas City, Mo. – The Bethany College Swedes Men’s Soccer team fell 1–0 to the Avila University Eagles on Saturday afternoon in a hard-fought contest at the Avila Soccer Complex.
From the outset, it was clear the Swedes were facing a difficult challenge. Coming off a grueling midweek match and with less than 44 hours of rest, the team also endured a long trip to Kansas City and unusually high temperatures. Despite these circumstances, Bethany battled throughout the match, showing resilience and determination against a fresh Eagles side.
The opening half was competitive, with both teams creating clear opportunities. The Swedes came closest when Richard Livingston broke free one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his attempt was stopped to keep the match scoreless.
In the second half, fatigue began to show in Bethany’s legs, though they continued pressing forward. The Swedes nearly found the breakthrough when a powerful strike rattled the crossbar, but they were unable to convert their chances. The deciding moment came in the 78th minute, when Avila broke through on the left side and finished past the Bethany defense to claim the lone goal of the afternoon.
While the result was a tough and frustrating one, given the context, the Swedes demonstrated their growth, competitive spirit, and ability to adapt under difficult conditions.
Up Next…
The Bethany College Men’s Soccer DEVO team will return to action on Wednesday, September 24, hosting Central Christian College at 5 p.m. at the Coach Ted Kessinger Family Stadium. The Varsity squad will travel to Wichita, Kan., on Saturday, September 27, to face Friends University
