Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas College Rocket League team has opened their season of play in a dramatic fashion with a reverse sweep in their season opener against Bethel.

Aquinas 3, Bethel 2

The Saints entered the best of five with the Pilots knowing it may be a close contest. AQ was seeded seventh in the preseason WHAC Coaches' Poll with 56 votes, while BU was right behind in eight with 52 votes.

AQ started the series quickly as Max Aguilar-Ochoa found the first goal of the night just 29 seconds into the contest. As time wound down the teams stood 2-2, and the Pilots collected the game one win in overtime.

The second game mimicked the first as this time Steve Garvey had the opening goal for the Saints, but the Pilots once again took the game with a run away goal in overtime.

AQ now down 2-0 in the series, had to push it into gear to keep their opening match win alive.

Entering the third Aguilar-Ochoa once again punched in the first goal for AQ. But Bethel went on a spree and scored the following three, creating the distance of 3-1. As the game progressed both teams continued to trade back and forth until the game stood 5-4 with 42 seconds remaining. 

In stunning fashion Garvey equalized the game with just 22 seconds left, and Juan Garcia Valdes gave the Saints their first lead in the game with 12 seconds to go. As time wound down, AQ managed to keep their opening win alive by stealing away the third game.

The Saints kept striking as they entered the fourth game of the five game series as Garvey once again notched the first goal. Momentum began to shift as Aquinas found another crack and went up 3-1, 4-1, then 5-1. Creating the largest advantage for the team on the night. Bethel answered with a last second goal but the deficit was too great, AQ took the fourth 5-2.

Aquinas had turned around the energy of the evening as the teams entered the fifth game. Here the Pilots went to strike first for the first time of the contest. 

The Saints then put up three goals of their own, giving them breathing room in this final sequence of the night. As time expired Bethel closed the gap to 3-2 with just 17 seconds left, but AQ cooled the Pilots jets as Garcia Valdes went on to return the difference with a goal just seven seconds later. Putting Aquinas up 4-2. 

As the clock sounded the final horn the Saints had done the work and pulled off a reverse sweep in their conference season opener.

By the Numbers

• Aguilar-Ochoa pulls a triple seven as he collected seven goals, assists, and saves
• Garcia Valdes matched with seven goals, and followed with four assists and six saves
• Garvey collected five goals, four assists, with six saves

Up Next

The Saints will return to the electric pitch on Wednesday (9/18) at 7:00 p.m. with Saint Xavier.