Photo by Jakob Komel
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College men's soccer team won their fourth straight game, defeating rival Bethany College on Saturday 2-0, in front of the Bulldog faithful at Paul Family Field.
There wasn't much action in the opening 45 minutes from either team. The Bulldogs had 11 total shots in the period, but were unable to find the back of the net, though they forced the Bethany goal keeper into a couple of tough save situations.
Tied 0-0 at the break, the Bulldogs finally broke through 21 minutes into the second stanza. Antoinne Detavernier (So. Brugge, Belgium), was fouled hard inside the 18 yard box by the Swedes' goal keeper, and the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty kick. Marcus Fernandes (Sr. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) converted the try, putting his team up 1-0.
In the 82nd minute of regulation, Rodrigo De Castro (Sr. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) played a beautiful cross from the right touch line, all the way across the field to the left touch line, to Carlos Reyna (Sr. Hutchinson, Kan.). Reyna settled the ball, went hard at the Swede defender, touched the ball to his right, then rifled a ball far post into the upper 90.
With the Bulldogs leading 2-0, things got a little chippy between the two sides. Several cards were shown by the center referee, including a red card for the Swedes' Luis Toro, who was sent off for a hard foul on the Bulldogs' Sean Thomson (Jr. Dorset, England).
Jose Alonso (Sr. Wichita, Kan.) and Valentin Bravo (Sr. Esparto, Calif.) split time in net for the Bulldogs. Both did their part for secure the clean sheet with Bravo picking up the win because he was the goal keeper when the Bulldogs took the lead in the second half. The Swedes finished with just six total shots, and only one on goal, a routine save for Alonso in the first half.
 "Today was another important three pts for us in the KCAC standings", said Bulldog head coach Doug Quint. "It was good to celebrate with the seniors today in such a wonderful atmosphere. We didn't play particularly well today but good teams find ways to win and we did that. Our discipline was key for us today."
 Prior to the contest, the Bulldogs honored 11 seniors on their Senior Day, Bravo, Alonso, Reyna, De Castro, Fernandes, Austin Cuevas (Mesquite, Texas), Eugenio Cervantez (Princeton, Texas), Anthony Bernal (McKinney, Texas), Marcus Brasley (Frisco, Texas), Justus Kohler (Prosselheim, Germany), and Navid Istanbullu (Bremen, Germany).
The Bulldogs are scheduled to be back in action next Friday night against the Bethel College Threshers, for a 7:30 match-up, on the road in North Newton, Kan. Stay tuned to www.macbulldogs.com or follow us on social media @Mac_Bulldogs (Twitter), @McPhersonBulldogs (Facebook) for any changes to the schedule.
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