LINDSBORG, Kan.— Southwestern College closed out its regular season with an offensive outburst Saturday night, defeating Bethany College 6-4 in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference men's soccer action. The Moundbuilders improved to 10-8 overall and 7-6 in KCAC play, finishing fifth in the conference standings.
Southwestern jumped out to an early lead when Jack Bagley-Etheridge scored in the eighth minute off an assist from Carlos Villalba. Connor Inlow followed in the 26th minute, capitalizing on a well-placed corner kick from Villalba to make it 2-0. After a Bethany goal from Mordecai Masakwa in the 36th minute, Marcos Benavidez restored the two-goal advantage with a strike in the 39th minute assisted by Bagley-Etheridge. The Moundbuilders led 3-1 at halftime.
Benavidez notched his second goal of the night in the 52nd minute, assisted by Aidan Wiggs, pushing Southwestern's lead to 4-1. Bethany's Steven McQueen responded in the 62nd minute, but Bagley-Etheridge answered two minutes later with a header goal off an amazing cross from Inlow to make it 5-2.
After Bethany cut the deficit to 5-3 on a McQueen penalty kick in the 70th minute, Jose Mejia sealed the match with Southwestern's sixth goal in the 76th minute off an assist from Benavidez. McQueen completed his hat trick in the 82nd minute for the Swedes, but the Moundbuilders' lead held firm.
Goalkeeper KJ Masso played all 90 minutes for Southwestern, recording two saves on six shots faced. Nikoloz Chitaia finished with five saves for Bethany.
Bagley-Etheridge and Benavidez each scored twice for Southwestern, while Inlow contributed a goal and two assists. Mejia added one goal.
The Moundbuilders outshot Bethany 19-6 and held a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
With his two goals in the match, Bagley-Etheridge became the Southwestern College men's soccer record holder for the most goals in a single season with 18 and the most points in a season with 41.
Southwestern's win capped its KCAC schedule and solidified the team's place in the upcoming conference postseason tournament. The Moundbuilders will face fourth-ranked York University in the opening round of the KCAC Tournament.
