LAKELAND, Fla.- After a second-half push from the Southeastern University men's soccer team, the contest between the Fire and the No. 21 Bethel University concluded with a 2-2 tie to advance to 1-0-1 on the season.
The first half saw the Pilots take advantage of a foul in the box as Luan Bressy capitalized on a penalty kick into the top left to secure the Pilot lead just six minutes into play. Both offenses got off five shots in the first 45 minutes with the Pilots putting four on goal.
The Fire continued to put shots on goal in the second period but were unable to connect with the equalizer until
Lucas Nishioka found
Gianluca Contegno on a corner kick that found the bottom left corner in the 73
rd minute.
Another foul in the box by the Fire in the 76
th minute set up another penalty kick opportunity for the Pilots, but the Pilots came up empty handed after a diving save by Jonathan Wojcicki kept the contest knotted at one.
The momentum of the big save carried for the Fire as
Edoardo Venutolo gave the Fire their first lead just two minutes later on an assist by
Marcello Cruz.
In the 81
st minute, Wojcicki would face the tall task of his third penalty kick of the contest which found the top left corner for the game-tying goal.
Wojcicki ended the contest with seven saves and the Fire registered 18 total shots, seven on goal.
The Fire will next take on Grace College on Saturday in Winona Lake at 3 p.m.
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