Jenks, OK. – Due to the expected weather conditions over the weekend, both coaching staffs agreed to move Friday’s matches up, with the women playing at 3 p.m. and the men at 5 p.m. Although the games were originally scheduled to take place in Bartlesville, Okla., they were relocated to Jenks, Okla., to ensure safe playing conditions.
The Bethany College Swedes Men’s Soccer team faced an extremely tough challenge against the No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles. Knowing the level of their opponent, the Swedes approached the match with the mindset of learning and growing as a team through a difficult test.
Unfortunately, the first half was not favorable for Bethany. The Eagles found the net early, scoring within the first two minutes, and quickly capitalized on several defensive mistakes to extend their lead. By the 21st minute, the Swedes were down 5–0, but they refused to give up.
Their persistence paid off at the 29th minute, when Richard Livingston made a great run down the wing and delivered a cross that Emmanuel Dukuly converted to score Bethany’s first goal of the afternoon. Despite trailing 8–1 at halftime, the Swedes showed moments of quality and effort that reflected their growth and competitive spirit.
In the second half, Bethany emerged with renewed energy and determination, recognizing that the opportunity to play against the nation’s top-ranked team was a valuable experience. The Eagles added another goal around the 68th minute, but the Swedes continued to fight and create attacking chances. Their pressure eventually forced a defensive mistake from Oklahoma Wesleyan, resulting in an own goal that made the final score 9–2.
While the result was tough, the Swedes demonstrated character, teamwork, and a willingness to compete until the final whistle. The experience will undoubtedly help them continue improving as they move forward in conference play.
Up Next…
The Bethany College Swedes Men’s Soccer team will travel to Hillsboro, Kan., to face Tabor College on Wednesday, October 29, at 7:30 p.m. for the last away game of the season.
