Second half scoring barrage sees BU pull away from Wildcats for first win
Bellevue erupted for six second-half goals in a 7-3 triumph over Johnson & Wales
DENVER, Colo. -- Scott Robson and Yago Ramos each scored twice and three other Bruins found the back of the net as the Bellevue University men's soccer team defeated Johnson & Wales University, 7-3, on Thursday afternoon in non-conference action at Aurora Sports Park.
Bellevue remained unbeaten on the year, improving to 1-0-1, while Johnson & Wales saw their record dip to the .500 mark at 1-1-0 on the season.
Bellevue dominated both the possession and the chances in the first half, out-shooting Johnson & Wales 7-2 (4-1 on goal) and controlling the ball in the JWU half of the field for large stretches at a time.
It took until the 38th minute before Ramos opened the scoring with his first goal in a BU uniform. After a foul in the box, Ramos stepped to the spot and beat the keeper for a 1-0 Bellevue advantage.
Bellevue nearly added another goal just ahead of the halftime whistle but Finlay Bloodworth's 43rd minute header went over the crossbar and out of play.
Out of the break, the Wildcats nearly leveled the match in the 49th minute but the would-be goal was ruled offside. JWU, however, didn't have to wait long to tie the score as Ben Flannery Bartlett netted a penalty kick goal of his own just 35 seconds later.
Three Bruins goals in just over four minutes turned a 1-1 tie into a comfortable 4-1 to allow Bellevue to spend much of the second half on cruise control.
Bellevue reclaimed the lead in the 51st minute when Robson played a long ball ahead to Edgar Guzman who took a couple touches before beating the oncoming keeper with a low shot into the back of the net. The goal was Guzman's second of the season.
Robson scored a goal of his own from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 55th minute to push the BU advantage to 3-1. That scoreline didn't remain for long as Robson found the back of the net again, scoring from the penalty spot to increase the Bruin lead to 4-1.
BU added another goal in the 62nd minute, by Inaki Aldao, to all but assure the victory. The Bruins tacked on their third PK goal of the game in the 70th minute, once again off the foot of Ramos.
The Bruins played a man up for the final 20:11 of the game after Flannery Bartlett was sent off after receiving a red card (following his second yellow) for his foul which led to Ramos' second penalty kick goal.
In the 78th minute Andres Blanco found himself one-on-one with the keeper before laying the ball off to Jack Finocchiaro, who was trailing the play, for him to bury the ball into the back of the net for a 7-1 lead.
Kyler Fowkes salvaged a consolation goal, via yet another penalty kick, for the Wildcats in the 87th minute to make the score 7-2. Zach Peterschmidt found the back of the net off a pass from Austin Collier with 41 seconds on the clock to account for the final score, 7-3.
The final stats showed Bellevue with a 16-11 advantage in shots and the Bruins held a 13-6 edge in attempts on target. Corners also favored the visiting side with BU gaining six to JWU's three. Fouls (4-4) and offside (18-18) were even at the conclusion of the game.
Bellevue returns to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Indiana Wesleyan University. That game will also be played at Aurora Sports Park.