Bethel soccer splits with Saint Mary on senior night
The women lose 2-1, while the men win 6-4 with Oborina's hat-trick and Pardo's four assists on the night
This Saturday, a mostly successful senior night took place for the eight total seniors being celebrated, as the women lost in a close 2-1 battle and the men won 6-4 in a roller coaster of a game against Saint Mary
It was an eventful night for the men, tallying six total goals, coming from Aleksa Oborina, with three, Gabriel Okita, with two, and Filip Maksimovic, with one. Lucas Pardo is one man to thank for these goals, as he managed to earn four assists on the night; this would lead head coach Luka Milicevic to hand co-man of the matches’ to Pardo and Oborina.
“Honestly, I'm a bit surprised. Scoring has always been a part of my game, but I definitely didn't expect a hat trick coming,” Oborina from Belgrade, Serbia said. “Nonetheless, the most important thing about it is that I helped the team win an important match. Scoring the deciding goal with two minutes left and celebrating with the team ranks as one of the happiest moments of my career. Going into the final two games, I am confident that the team will end the season on a high and then hopefully have a good playoff run.”
Captain and fifth year senior, Pardo, from Montevideo, Uruguay, stated, “We needed to win, and the team showed that we are capable of playing under pressure. We have two games left that will determine what we are made for the playoffs. The confidence in the group has increased after every game since we are able to know what our strengths and weaknesses are and play with them. I think we can end up really good the season.”
Lucas Pardo wasn't the only man to earn assists this time out, though. Maksimovic and Kazimir Kromwijk would also earn an assist each on the night. It is quite irregular when a goalkeeper earns an assist, but the junior transfer from Dierdrict, Nederlands punted the ball over 50 yards to the foot of Maksimovic, the sophomore striker from Belgrade, Serbia, to earn his first collegiate assist.
In terms of the said roller coaster game, it started out hot for the Threshers, as Okita, from Brain Alouid, Belgium, would get the ball rolling in the fifth minute. After this goal, the game would be at a standstill until the Spires equalized in the 38th minute; however, their joy didn't last long, as Maksimovic would get his solo goal of the night just one minute later.
This would lead both teams into the second half with a score of 2-1. In the 57th minute, though, Oborina would begin his reign, making the score 3-1. The Spires got one back as well, but Oborina would score his second goal of the night. With a score of 4-2, the Threshers were feeling confident for a win, but Saint Mary scored two goals back-to-back, making the score an equal 4-4.
Milcevic at 4-4 said, “I was very confident before the game and not so confident at 4-4, but we got it done.”
The Spires equalizer came in the 84th minute; at this point, some teams would lose their hope, as well as their momentum, but not Bethel. Oborina would score his third and final goal, securing his hat-trick, followed by Okita's second of the night, finalizing the score of 6-4.
“Obi is very offensive, and I am glad to see him getting some goals to prove that; he was clinical in front of the goal,” added Milicevic. “Lucas Pardo with four assists shows that he is our most creative player, and he continues to serve his teammates; all four assists were first-class.”
The men and women's teams will go again on Thursday. They will travel to Sterling to take on the Warriors. The women will begin at 1:00 p.m. as they fight for a playoff spot. Although it will be tough for them to breakthrough, their playoff hopes live on as if they win the next two games, they have a possibility to finish eighth, depending on other teams in the KCAC. The men will follow at 3:00 p.m.
Sterling is currently sitting in 12th and 13th place for their men's and women's sides. The Bethel men are in fifth with a chance to jump to fourth after the coming results. The Lady Threshers are in 10th, two places outside of the playoff mark.