ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA – The Grand View Men's Soccer team pulled off a stunning 1-0 upset victory over No. 1 seeded Bethel University (BU) in the first game of round of 16 at the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Final Site on Monday morning. The Vikings delivered a masterclass in defensive discipline and opportunistic finishing to shock the tournament's top seed and advance to the quarterfinals.
The match remained scoreless through the opening minutes until Grand View struck in the 12th minute.
Pietro Piacenza found the back of the net unassisted, giving the Vikings a crucial 1-0 lead with the game's first goal. Despite relentless pressure from Bethel throughout the match, Grand View's defense held firm to preserve the narrow advantage and complete the upset.
Both teams battled intensely, with Bethel desperately searching for an equalizer. Bethel outshot Grand View 15-7 but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. The Vikings' defensive unit, anchored by goalkeeper
Luis Helm, remained organized and disciplined under constant pressure from the nation's top-ranked team.
Grand View's defense proved to be the difference-maker, with Helm recording four crucial saves and posting a clean sheet against the tournament's most dangerous offense. The team demonstrated resilience and composure, absorbing pressure and protecting their lead for the final 78 minutes of play to secure one of the biggest victories in program history.
The match was physical, with two yellow cards issued—two to Grand View (
Dylan Hunston in the 31st minute and
Tim Schoorlemmer in the 81st minute) and one red card to Bethel's Enock Owusu in the 63rd minute. Despite the intensity, the Vikings maintained their focus and discipline to close out the monumental victory.
MATCH NOTES
- Pietro Piacenza's unassisted goal in the 12th minute proved to be the game-winner and upset clincher.
- Luis Helm earned four saves and a clean sheet, delivering a stellar defensive performance against the No. 1 seed.
- Bethel outshot Grand View 15-7, but the Vikings' defense held strong when it mattered most.
- Grand View held Bethel to just 4 shots on goal despite facing 15 total shot attempts.
WHAT'S NEXT? Grand View advances to the quarterfinals at the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship. The Vikings will face No. 9 seeded Georgia Gwinnett on Thursday, December 4th at 10:00 AM CT as they continue their pursuit of a national championship.
