MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris men's soccer team finished up its 2024 campaign on Saturday with a 5-1 home loss to Bethany Lutheran College on Senior Day at Cougar Field. Blake Ordell wraps up his first year at the helm of the UMN Morris program with a 5-15 (5-9 UMAC) mark.

Though Bethany Lutheran boasted a relentless offensive attack, Minnesota Morris kept things close for the opening 30 minutes. The Vikings took the lead in the seventh minute with a tap-in from Guilherme Gancho, but Minnesota Morris answered back in the 28th minute with Brandon Patterson delivering a nicely-weighted through ball to a sprinting Aaron Mackall who beat the BLC keeper with his first touch and then slotted home for his 10th goal of the season.

The deadlock lasted only until the 32nd minute as Daniel Almeida took advantage of a failed clearance to give the visitors a 2-1 edge. Just before the break, a long throw-in led to confusion in the box and a 3-1 lead for Bethany Lutheran on Gancho's second goal of the afternoon.

Despite an advantage in overall shots throughout the second half, the action on the field between the Vikings and Cougars was fairly even until a pair of set pieces in the final 20 minutes provided a larger cushion for Bethany Lutheran. The Vikings took a 4-1 lead on a corner kick headed home by Almeida in the 73rd minute. With just over three minutes left, Gijs van Eldik curled home a free kick from about 20 yards for the final margin.

Mackall, Tommy Ellis, and Brett Bartkowicz combined for the five Cougar shots on the day. Nick Isensee finished the day with eight saves in goal.