Area briefs: Bethel soccer sweeps Crossroads Awards
SOCCER
Bethel sweeps Crossroads awards
Bethel's Joao de Oliveira was named the Crossroads League Player of the Year, along with earning first team all-league honors. Andres Gonzalez Maza and Miguel Martins also earned first team for the Pilots . Andre Luis Sabino, Jefter Pereira, and Franklin Joyce each earned honorable mention.
Bethel's Thiago Pinto was named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year.
De Oliveira has led a Pilot defense that has allowed the fewest goals (18) and fewest shots (139) in the Crossroads League. He has added two goals of his own on the offensive end and helped the Pilots to their most regular season wins (13) since the magical 15-0-1 regular season of 2009.
Pinto was named was named coach of the year for the fourth time in his career after leading the Pilots to their 16th Crossroads League regular season title in program history, the fifth under his command. Pinto also navigated the Pilots to a Crossroads League Tournament Championship, the program’s 10th and the third of his career.
Pilots on to NAIA
Bethel received an automatic bid to the upcoming NAIA National Championship opening round on Thursday thru Saturday in Marshall, Missouri.
The Pilots earned the bid by winning the Crossroads League tournament championship over the weekend.
The Pilots earned a No. 3 seed in the opening round and will face No. 2 William Carey (Miss.). They will play on Thursday, November 18 in Marshall, home of the No. 1 seed and opening round host Missouri Valley.
Sabino, Joyce are players of week
Bethel University's Andre Luis Sabino and Franklin Joyce were named the Crossroads League offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively.
Sabino had a pivotal role in Bethel winning the Crossroads League tournament championship, scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Marian and then adding a penalty kick goal to help the Pilots claim the title via a 3-1 result in penalty kicks over Indiana Wesleyan.
Joyce posted shutouts over Marian and Indiana Wesleyan. The senior keeper highlighted his tourney with three stopped penalty kicks to help BU claim the tourney crown.
VOLLEYBALL
Titans going to Wisconsin
IU South Bend learned it is heading north for the next stop on the Titans' postseason run, as the 48-team field for the 2021 NAIA National Championship was announced on Monday. The Titans will face No. 2 Viterbo (Wisc.) on Saturday, November 20.
The V-Hawks, out of La Crosse, Wisc., were the regular season and tournament champions of the North Star Athletic Association, and enter the NAIA Tournament with a 37-1 overall record.
The Titans are making their third appearance in the NAIA Tournament, since the program's debut in 2011. This season, IUSB hold a 22-7 overall record, matching the team's all-time record for wins in a season.
Bethel gets at-large bid
Bethel earned an at-large spot in the upcoming NAIA National Championship Opening Round on Saturday, November 20.
The Pilots' opening round opponent will be No. 22 Dordt (Iowa). They will play on Saturday in Sioux Center, Iowa .
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Area briefs: Bethel soccer sweeps Crossroads Awards
