Firestorm Come Up Short vs BenU In GSAC Championship

Glendale, Ariz. – Arizona Christian battled throughout the evening but came up short against Benedictine Mesa, falling 3-1 in the GSAC Men’s Soccer quarterfinals. 

MATCH INFO
Score: Benedictine Mesa – 3, Arizona Christian – 1
Records:  Benedictine Mesa – 9-6-3, GSAC 6-5-2 | Arizona Christian – 8-7-4, GSAC 7-4-2
Location: ACU Soccer Field, Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER
Nathan Tchiakpe – 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
Raul Aranda – 1 assist, 2 shots
Jose Garcia – 3 shots, 2 shots on goal
Alexander Menolascina – 2 shots, 1 shot on goal
Emiliano Vega – 3 goals allowed, 3 saves

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Benedictine Mesa opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Kobe Bewicke converted a penalty kick to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage. 
• The Firestorm worked to find an equalizer but entered halftime trailing by one.
• The visitors extended their lead early in the second half, with Shay Carey finding the back of the net in the 52nd minute off an assist from Sander Kuehn.
• ACU responded just over seven minutes later. In the 60th minute, Nathan Tchiakpe delivered for the Firestorm, scoring his seventh goal of the season off an assist from Raul Aranda to cut the deficit to 2-1 and give ACU renewed momentum.
• The Firestorm continued to push for an equalizer, recording seven second-half shots and earning seven corner kicks throughout the contest. 
• However, Benedictine Mesa added an insurance goal in the 85th minute, with Bewicke scoring his second of the evening off an assist from Ryder Skolka to secure the 3-1 result.
• ACU lost to Benedictine Mesa, 1-3. 

NEXT UP
This concludes the 2026 season for the Firestorm.

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