MEN’S SOCCER

The energy and intensity was electric under the lights Wednesday night at King Stadium with #8 Bethel (8-2-1, 2-0) eventually outlasting the HU men’s soccer team 2-1.

Both teams scored on free kicks in the first half less than two minutes apart with the Pilots striking first. A Huntington foul right outside the box set the stage for a restart that saw Sami Charaf Amal fire a  shot over the hosts’ wall of players in the 28th minute.

Just over 90 seconds later, the Pilots were whistled for a foul right outside the box at the other end of the field. It was déjà vu as Bethel’s wall of players didn’t stand a chance at blocking Sam Dolobaipu’s banger that smashed the cross bar and bounced in to force a 1-1 tie.

The stalemate stood through intermission, but the guests took charge of the second half with their game-winner coming in the 57th minute. While it wasn’t for lack of effort on Huntington’s part, Bethel’s possession was well documented in the second half. The Pilots racked up 12 shots to HU’s four, a stark difference from the first period when both teams posted nine shots.

“I thought our compete level tonight was some of our best,” said Coach Russ Lawson. “We had positive moments against a very talented and organized side. Unfortunately our second half dipped, and we struggled to generate time on the ball in the attacking half.

“The boys are determined to be better next time out.”

These two squads have taken turns dominating each other. Tonight’s win was Bethel’s fifth straight over HU but before that, Huntington had pieced together a five-game win streak over BU.

Huntington (4-4-3, 1-1) makes the short trip to Fort Wayne on Saturday to face Saint Francis at 5:00 p.m.