EUGENE, Ore.  – On the cusp of their first victory of the season with just 15 minutes to play, the Bushnell University men's soccer team was shocked by a four-goal onslaught as Northwest University pulled off a 5-2 Cascade Conference victory on Monday evening.
 
It may go down as the craziest game in Beacon history, but it didn't start that way. The Eagles wasted no time in planting a goal in the net, earning a penalty kick in the ninth minute, which Elliot Misic fired home.
 
The teams played an even first-half from that point with Northwest owning just a 4-2 shot advantage. The Beacons came out of the intermission inspired and just five minutes in, senior Ethan Crofts headed in a loose ball in front of the net. Kyle Aure had fired a rocket that was saved by NU keeper Brandon Karberg, but the goal was left vulnerable and Crofts took advantage, scoring his first career goal in his final home game.
 
For Bushnell, it was the first goal since February 19, and first goal in CCC play, a stretch of over 700 minutes. The new gap between goals proved to be significantly smaller as Aure claimed a goal of his own just 20 minutes later.
 
The Beacons had dominated the time of possession to that point and were holding their first second-half lead of the season. All signs pointed to a senior day success story until the 75th minute.
 
Bushnell owned a 7-3 shot advantage to that point of the half, but in the final 15 minutes the Eagles took nine shots, including four that found the back of the net within a six-minute span.
 
Titus Nickson scored on a rebound off a saved Dylan Murphy shot with 15 minutes to play, tying the game at 2-2. Three minutes later, Kyle Han blasted a 35-yard strike that found the top corner of the goal for the game-winner.
 
The Eagles needed just 40 seconds to collect an insurance goal, courtesy of Benjamin Banks-Forder. Then in the 81st minute, Nickson headed in a corner kick from Leon Bormann to ice the victory.
 
Northwest (4-4-1, 2-3-1 CCC) finished the game with a 16-12 edge in shots. Karberg made three saves in the win. For the Beacons, Julian Hernandez collected eight saves between the pipes. Aure led all players with six shot attempts including three shots-on-goal.
 
"We were gutted to lose this game tonight," said head coach Erik Carrazco. "The boys played very well and it was especially great to get two in the back of the net. We put ourselves in a position to win, but couldn't finish it. We just need to dust ourselves off and prepare for next week."
 
The Beacons (0-10, 0-8) will close out the season next week on the road, traveling to face Warner Pacific for a pair of games. The teams will play next Monday and Tuesday with 2:00 pm kick-offs.
 
 

 
Bushnell honored seven seniors in a pre-game ceremony on Monday. Coach Carrazco said, "Hats off to the seniors who gave it their all. That is the uniqueness of this group. They are very hard working and tenacious and it is going to be very difficult to replace that next year. They are a solid group of guys who continue to fight despite the tough season we have had."
 
Dieuson Alix
 
Alix has been with the Beacons for two seasons and has played in 19 games. Coach Carrazco said, "It has been a joy to have Alix on this team. In the last two years, he has been the guy who has helped his teammates get better. You can always count on him on and off the field. Alix finds joy wherever he goes and that joy is always contagious. Since I have known him he has created his own show on Facebook where he interviews people in the community and also created his own clothing line. If he has done that in two years, I can only imagine what he can accomplish in this next season of life. Alix, thank you for your commitment to your teammates and your commitment to always improving your game."
 
Christoph Mai
 
Christoph has been with the Beacons for two seasons and has played in 23 games, making 21 starts. He has one goal and one assist in his career and has been both an Academic All-CCC selection and a Daktronicks-NAIA scholar-athlete. He was named the top Newcomer by his teammates as a junior. Coach Carrazco said, "Bushnell University was lucky to have a student like Christoph. He is not one who speaks up a lot but his actions always spoke louder than words. A leader by example who always did right by the coaching staff and his teammates. Christoph shared with the team that the legacy that he wanted to leave behind was one that exemplified how despite the big demand student-athletes face, that you could still get everything accomplished. That is the exact legacy he is leaving behind. Christoph's dedication and commitment to doing this right will surely bring him success in the future. Christoph, from the coaching staff and myself, Thank you!"
 
Andrew Mitchell
 
Andrew has been with the Beacons for two seasons and has played in 15 games. Last season he scored three goals and had two assists. Coach Carrazco, "Every team needs a person and a player like Andrew. As a player, Andrew was always hard-working and tenacious. Qualities that you can't coach and qualities that make you hard to play against. Even after his injury happened, it is still tough to find someone who is as fast as him. Andrew was also a phenomenal teammate and friend. Committed to helpings others in any way he could, Andrew is always reliable. When you put both of those qualities together, you have a special student-athlete. Andrew, thank you for your commitment to this school and more importantly to this program."
 
Luis Diaz Menendez
 
Luis has been with the Beacons for three seasons. He has played in 29 games and has started 22. He has two goals and three assists in his career and was named the Top Newcomer by his teammates in 2018. Coach Carrazco said, "It is hard to believe that Luis's time wearing a Beacon jersey is coming to a close. He has most certainly left a mark on this program and the university as a whole. Over a year ago, while he sat in hospital waiting rooms, playing soccer seemed like something that he would never be able to do again. Three surgeries later, over a month of daily treatments that required him to be in the hospital three times a day, and other set-backs, here he is…about to play in another match. Luis, what an inspiration you are to your teammates, the staff, and others around you as we watched how your joyful spirit was unwavering despite everything what was going on. You will forever be an inspiration to me."
 
Gage Garcia
 
Gage has been with the Beacons for three years. He has played in 17 games and made 13 starts. Coach Carrazco said, "It has been a pleasure to watch Gage grow over the last four years. Not many understand the way the sport of soccer beats up on your body quite like he does. Despite the setbacks we could always count on him to have the hunger to come back and give everything he had for his teammates. His willingness not to let obstacles get in his way will produce success in life."
 
Jose Magana
 
Jose is in his third year with the Beacons. He has played in 26 games and has started 19. He has two assists in his career. Coach Carrazco said, "Jose's commitment to the grind of a soccer season is something that we will miss. Following a tough year being a red-shirt, Jose committed himself to coming back this season better than ever, and he did just that. He put in the work and the staff and his teammates could tell the different beast that Jose was this season. If Jose approaches life with the same tenacity and grit, he will be successful in anything that he does.
 
Ethan Crofts
 
Ethan is in his fourth year with the Beacons. He has played in 53 games and has started 27. He has one assist in his career. Coach Carrazco said, "It has been an extreme pleasure to watch Ethan grow in the past four-years. In his time as a Beacon he has most definitely left behind a legacy and big shoes to fill. If Ethan approaches adult life with the same dedication and energy as he approached soccer, there is no limit to what he can do. Thank you for all of your hard work, selflessness, and leadership that has made my first-year as a head coach much easier. It will be tough to replace your dedication and love for this game but I am excited to see what this new season of life will bring you."