In a tightly contested first half against Embry-Riddle, the Benedictine Mesa men's soccer team struggled to find their rhythm but remained resilient. Goalkeeper Mortiz Ae was tested early, making several key saves. The defense, led by Shiloh Perez, held strong against a barrage of attempts, including a notable defensive save by Mahloko and another crucial stop by Ae on a header. Despite earning a couple of corner kicks and attempting to counterattack, with shots from Jimmy Quintero and Ignacio Arsuaga being blocked, the Redhawks found it difficult to break through Embry-Riddle's defense. As the half wound down, a late goal at the 44:09 mark put Embry-Riddle ahead 1-0, leaving Benedictine with work to do in the second half to level the score.
 
In the second half, the Benedictine Mesa Redhawks faced an uphill battle against Embry-Riddle, who struck quickly with a goal just 1 minute and 15 seconds into the period, extending their lead to 2-0. The Redhawks pushed back with several attempts, with Ethan Lush and Marco Paiz Garcia both forcing saves from Embry-Riddle's goalkeeper. The game took a dramatic turn when Pulido-Santala received a red card, leaving Embry-Riddle with ten players, providing Benedictine with an opportunity to capitalize on the man advantage. Shortly after, Embry added another goal, increasing their lead to 3-0. However, the Redhawks responded with tenacity, as Ryder Padgett scored in the 67th minute, narrowing the gap to 3-1. Despite multiple attempts on goal from Padgett, Shiloh Perez, and Ignacio Arsuaga, all of which were saved, Benedictine couldn't find the net again. They continued to press forward, but the clock ran down, and the Redhawks ultimately fell to Embry-Riddle 3-1.
 
Key Individuals:
Ryder Padgett: 3 shots on goal with one goal
Ignacio Arsuaga: 5 shots with 3 on goal
Shiloah Perez: 3 shots with 2 on goal
 
 
Looking Ahead: The Redhawks are back on the field as they take on Park-Gilbert on Thursday, October 10^th at home for their Flight Night Game.