Pulaski, TN – An evenly matched contest took place between #24 UC men's soccer and (RV) Bethel for the Mid-South Conference Semifinals. The game was deadlocked at 0-0 through 110 minutes forcing the game to go to penalty kicks. Bethel rose to the occasion, scoring on all their penalties while UC only made one, allowing BU to move onto the MSC Finals.
 
The game stats were fairly even across the two squads. Cumberlands edged Bethel just barely in shots, recording 15 to 13, but both had just three shots on goal.
 
The Wildcats had the first shot of the game, requiring Pablo Vazquez to come up with a save, just seven minutes into the match. Bethel had a corner kick on the left side and the ball that was sent into the box was redirected less than five feet from Vazquez. The BU attacker shot it from point blank range, but Vazquez dove to push the ball away.
 
Then right before halftime, UC was able to get their first shot on goal of the game. In the 39' Hrannar Magnusson sent the ball in from outside the 18-yard box. He struck the ball so well into the corner, Bethel's goalkeeper had to be outstretched to make the save.
 
The second half was much of the same, with only three total shots on goal, combined from both teams. The Wildcats had a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the 72^nd minute that was then shot on frame, requiring Vazquez to make another save. Just five minutes later, UC got their own shot on frame. Tjerk Meijs tried from outside the 18-yard box, but it was handled by Bethel's goalkeeper.

The scoreless game through regulation forced overtime for the second straight match for UC. The Pats defense stepped again making it back-to-back games without allowing a shot in the overtime period. UC had chances in overtime to score, but could not convert. In the first period, they had three shots including one from Shuma Sasaski that hit the crossbar. In the second overtime period, Joachim Blomsterberg had a header just saved by Bethel in the last minute to send the game to a penalty shootout.

Bethel stepped to the line first every time for their four rounds of penalty kicks and converted every one. For UC, the only one to convert was Hrannar Magnusson, slotting the ball on the right side. The 4-1 lead was enough and it solidified the win for Bethel.

The loss for Cumberlands ended their hopes of making the MSC Finals for the third straight season.

The team will now await their fate for the NAIA Opening Round with the selection show slated for 1PM ET on Monday November, 14 on the NAIA Facebook page here.

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