MCKENZIE, Tenn. (11.02.09) - The Bethel Wildcats needed overtime to do it, but they completed the regular season without losing a match. They had to come back from a 1-0 deficit to do it, but tied the game in regulation and won it in the first overtime 2-1 over the visiting Eagles of Lambuth University.
Bethel outshot Lambuth 8-4 in the first half, but trailed 1-0. The Eagles' Gavin Smith converted a penalty kick with 1:24 left in the half to take the lead.
Bethel's defense was the main story for the remainder of the game as they did not allow one shot in the second half or the overtime. The Wildcats did get shots, eight of them in the second frame. The ‘Cats finally found the net in the 77th minute as Dawyne Smith scored with an assist by Armondo Orozco to knot the score 1-1.
That momentum carried into the overtime as TranSouth men's soccer offensive player of the week, Orozco scored the game winner in the 97th minute.
Massimo Collu-Marchese got his 13th win of the season. During halftime, Collu-Marchese was recognized during Senior Day as the only senior on the team. Head Coach Melvin Belong said the memory of Collu-Marchese that will stay with him forever is in the 2008 TranSouth Conference Tournament shootout where Collu-Marchese was the goaltender stopping shots and then the goal scorer of the winning PK.
Bethel is now unbeaten in its last 30 games dating back to last season. Being ranked No.1 in the first nine polls of the season, Bethel is the first team to be ranked No. 1 for the first nine polls to start a season since 2004.
Bethel, the TranSouth Conference Regular Season Champion awaits their opponent in the TSAC tournament.
