Mishawaka, Ind. — The Aquinas men's soccer team pulled level at 1-1 minutes into the second half on Tuesday (Sept. 13) evening, but No. 17-ranked Bethel (Ind.) buried four unanswered goals in the final 35 minutes to spoil any upset attempt. The Pilots (5-1-1) won 5-1 and moved the Saints (3-3) back to the .500 mark.

Bethel sophomore midfielder Andre Sabino stepped to the penalty spot and opened the scoring in the 41st minute. The Pilots lead the NAIA with six converted penalty shots in the team's first seven games. Sabino is now 3-for-3 from the spot with four total goals on the season.

Aquinas responded out of halftime with an equalizer by non-starter Ricardo Rittersberger. His second goal of the season had the Saints back on track in the 49th minute. Theo Maye picked up his team-leading fourth assist of the season to go with his four goals, giving him 12 points in six matches so far this year.

Momentum quickly swung back in Bethel's favor with a pair of goals under two minutes apart. Andres Latorre connected first from Tim Noeding in the 56th minute before Luan Bressy added his team-leading eighth goal of the season — tied for third-most in the NAIA — in the 58th minute, assisted by Eduardo Da Silva.

Adding two more for good measure, Bethel's Ana Alemanji made it 4-1 in the 74th minute and Peiro Sabroso netted the last goal in the 83rd minute. Gabriel Pacheco and Marcos Estabaranz provided the helpers, giving the Pilots four different players with an assist in the match.

Bethel outshot Aquinas 23-5 (18-2 shots on target). 

AQ returns home to prepare for a homecoming match Saturday (Sept. 17) against Kalamazoo College (1-4). Kickoff at noon with the AQ women's soccer team playing afterwards against Mount Vernon Nazarene. Both matches and homecoming festivities are happening at the AQ Athletic Field.