The Holy Cross men’s soccer team fell to No. 10 Bethel (Indiana) at home on Wednesday afternoon. Bethel’s star freshman Luca Canto scored the lone goal of the game in the 26th minute of play, propelling the Pilots to a 1-0 victory in what proved to be an impressive result for the Saints despite the loss.
The Saints’ star performance came courtesy of sophomore goalkeeper Logan Kelly. The 5’11 shot-stopper annoyed the Pilots all day long, recording 11 saves. Although Holy Cross only produced four total shots to Bethel’s 23, the resilience of Kelly and the Saints’ backline was superb.
Separated by only a 14-minute drive, Holy Cross and Bethel have had several great battles over the years. However, since the turn of the decade, the series has been dominated by Bethel. Holy Cross’ last win against the Pilots came on Aug. 26, 2019 in a 3-2 win. The Saints would go on to streak together a seven-game unbeaten streak in October, eventually making a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) semifinals appearance.
The Saints’ 1-0 loss this year is a slight improvement from their 3-1 loss to the Pilots a season ago.
Canto’s 26th minute goal is his second goal of the year. He previously netted the ball away against No. 22 University of Rio Grande on Sept. 1. Canto, a creative midfielder from Brazil, is one of many international players who make up Bethel’s starting nine. Against the Saints, the Pilots started players from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Netherlands and Spain.
With the loss, Holy Cross drops to 2-2 on the season. The Saints will look to get back to their winning ways as they host Rochester Christian of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference this Saturday at noon. The Crimson are 0-4 and have only scored one goal on the season. Last season, Holy Cross beat Rochester Christian 3-1 behind two goals from Juan Perez and one from Kevin Vidana. CCAC All-Second Team fullback Nathan Sanchez chipped in with an assist.
Sanchez will play a crucial piece to the Saints’ quest for a vital win. Head coach Omar Gallo has utilized Sanchez’s sublime technical ability in the attacking third of play, while he has also been a lively piece defensively. Fellow sophomores wing Diego Blount and center back Cesar Vela will also take on large roles for the Saints as they square off against the Crimson.
Blount’s unique pace has the ability to change a game and Vela’s consistent play has made him a mainstay in Gallo’s team.
If Holy Cross is able to get production out of their stars in addition to another big performance from Kelly, they will set themselves up nicely against any opponent they face. The Saints have shown they can hang with one of the best teams in the country and they will now use that confidence to carry them forward.
