Wildcats Capture Mid-South Conference Soccer Championship

McKENZIE — The Bethel Wildcats are champions once again.

With a dominant 2-0 victory over Cumberland (TN) at Walter Butler Stadium, the Wildcats claimed the Mid-South Conference Soccer Tournament Championship, completing a remarkable postseason run marked by grit, precision, and team chemistry.

From the opening whistle, Bethel looked every bit the title favorite. The Wildcats wasted no time asserting control when Horace Avila Jr. broke through the Phoenix defense just six minutes into the match and blasted home the opening goal, giving Bethel an early 1–nil advantage.

Bethel doubled the lead in the 27th minute as Souleymane Balde connected with a pinpoint assist from Avila Jr., finishing cleanly to make it 2-0. The early cushion gave the Wildcats room to showcase their signature defensive discipline–and they did not disappoint.

Behind a superb effort from goalkeeper Diego Camargo, who recorded two key saves en route to a shutout, Bethel’s back line of Ishmael Fuseini, Juan Diego Corral, Sa-Jar Blair and Enock Owusu locked down the Cumberland attack. The Phoenix managed just two shots on target all evening.

Head coach Malang Jarju praised his squad’s focus and drive after the final whistle.

“This is what we’ve worked for all season,” Jarju said. “Every player bought it–from the first training session to tonight’s final. They earned this championship.”

Bethel outshot Cumberland 9-5 and controlled possession for much of the contest. The Wildcats showed poise in the midfield through Roberto Rangel and Mohammed Benguellal, while Avila Jr. and Balde’s chemistry up front proved too much for Cumberland to contain.

The title marks another milestone in what has been a stellar season for Bethel, who improved to 12-1-2 overall and now turn their focus toward the NAIA National Tournament.

“Winning this conference means everything,” Avila Jr. said. “We knew what was at stake, and we wanted to make a statement. Now, it’s time to take this energy to nationals.”

As confetti fell and the team hoisted the championship banner under the lights of Walter Butler Stadium, one thing was clear–the Wildcats reign supreme in the Mid-South.

The journey to Orange Beach, Ala., begins now as 40 teams have punched their ticket to the First and Second Rounds of the 2025 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Tournament, taking place on Thursday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 22, at campus sites across the nation. Teams that advance out of those rounds will pack their bags and head to Orange Beach, where final site action will commence on December 1 and continue through December 8, until one team stands alone and is crowned a champion.

The Cats will host Rocky Mountain (MT) and Union Commonwealth (KY) in the McKenzie bracket.

Rocky Mountain and Union Commonwealth will play Thursday at 1 p.m. with Bethel awaiting the winner on Saturday at noon. The Cats are fresh off their Mid-South Conference Championship and are the No. 1 seed in the field.