LINDSBORG, Kan. – Three different players scored to the give the Eagles three different leads, and ultimately Avila men's soccer (3-11-1, 2-7-1 KCAC) fought off a frantic last-second Swede surge and held on for an important 3-2 victory over Bethany on Saturday night in Lindsborg.

The Swedes remain the KCAC's lone winless team, but Avila certainly wore Bethany's strongest punch, especially in the waning moments, as the Swedes searched desperately for their first positive result of the season. But Avila stood tall, dodged one or two bullets, and pulled out the one-goal win, snapping a seven-game losing streak and matching last year's win total with their third of the campaign.

It's also a victory that keeps Avila's KCAC Tournament hopes alive. They are extremely faint hopes, true, but they are still alive after this much-needed win, a hard-earned win at that. Avila had the strongest share of the possession early and won three corner kicks in the first four minutes of the game, pressure that culminated in Malcolm Goswell scoring the game's first goal just over eight minutes in. Bethany's Inigo Fernandez equalized four minutes later however, setting the tone for just how back and forth this game would become.

Goswell had the only other shot on goal for the remainder of the half, but the Eagles struck early in the second half, with Ismaiel Cisse delivering a penalty kick goal four minutes into the period to put Avila back on top. Once again, however, Bethany had an equalizer, this time from Fernando Villaseca in the 57^th minute, leveling the score at 2-2.

But once again, Avila did what it took to go back in front. Just a few minutes after Johnathan Fager, who returned to the Avila net after his injury scare against Ottawa, made a save on Jarit Mejia to keep the game tied, the Eagles broke that tie when Sam Kanda set up Thomas Mikkelson for his third goal of the season in the 68^th minute.

That put the Eagles in front for the third time in the match. Bethany's Jake Goldstein denied Cisse's bid to extend the Eagles' lead, and Avila certainly had to work hard to walk away with the win: In the final two minutes, the Swedes put a shot on goal that Fager stopped, had a second shot hit the crossbar, and had a third shot – a header from their own keeper, Goldstein – sail wide. Bethany did what it could to find an equalizer, but Avila did what it had to to keep their lead intact, and escape with a much-needed 3-2 win.

Up next, Avila heads into its conference "bye week" – the Eagles are off on Wednesday before returning home to The Z for the final time this season in another important game against Tabor. It will be Senior Day for the Avila soccer programs against the Bluejays; the women will kick off the doubleheader at noon with the men to follow at 2:30. As always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network.