EUGENE, Ore.  – Trailing 2-1 early in the second half, the Bushnell men's soccer team rallied to claim a 3-2 win over Simpson University on Monday morning in the season opening game for both schools at Civic Park.
 
Sophomore Caleb Premo scored a brace and freshman Javier Gutierrez posted the game-winner for his first collegiate goal as the Beacons won a contest which had been moved from its originally scheduled time on Sunday. Poor air quality in Lane County, stemming from local wildfires, were to blame.
 
Head Coach Joao Ehlers said, "We had a great collective performance today. Our guys never gave up and maintained high intensity throughout the match. We are very pleased with our offensive movements and we are happy to see Premo and Javi score some goals."
 
Premo wasted little time in getting the Beacons on the board, dribbling into the box in the fifth minute and scoring short into the left side of the net for the early 1-0 advantage.
 
Jesus Rodriguez put the visitors on the board in the 40th minute, scoring off a cross into the box. The half-time tie didn't last long as Rodriguez scored his second goal in the 51st minute, taking a rebound after a cross and firing home the go-ahead strike.
 
Just four minutes later, Premo had the answer with his second goal as he took a through-ball up the middle from freshman Francisco Cayolla tying the game.
 
Then, in the 76th minute, Gutierrez took a short tap from Alejandro Munoz and fired in the victory-sealing strike.
 
The Beacons (1-0) out-shot the Redhawks 18-13 in the contest with freshman goalkeeper Andre Ferreira recorded five saves in route to the victory.
 
For Bushnell the three-goal effort matched their best total from the 2022 campaign and was their most goals in a victory since September 19, 2021.
 
The Beacons return to action on Wednesday night, taking on George Fox University at 7:00 pm in Newberg, Oregon.