SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Travis Hurd scored in the eighth minute and the #15 Bellevue University men's soccer team never looked back en route to defeating Briar Cliff University, 3-0, on Wednesday evening at Faber Field.
Records:
#15 Bellevue: 7-0-2
Briar Cliff: 2-3-0
Recap: #15 Bellevue 3, Briar Cliff 0
The Bruins set the tone, scoring early in each half, as they extended their unbeaten run to nine games.
Bellevue opened the scoring in the eighth minute on a goal from Travis Hurd, his third goal of the season.
The Bruins withstood being out-shot 8-3 in the opening period as they took the 1-0 advantage into the halftime break.
Amador Rangel knocked in a strike in the 49th minute off a Toby Millward corner kick to double the BU advantage shortly after the half. Rangel's goal was his first this season and second in 58 appearances for the Bruins.
The game was put away in the 61st minute when Finlay Bloodworth slotted home an insurance tally on Millward's second assist of the evening. The goal was Bloodworth's second of the year as he stayed even with Hurd for second on the team in that category.
Bellevue played the final 25:33 with a man advantage after Jake Dube was sent off with a red card.
AJ Jarvis stopped five shots in goal for Bellevue to earn the clean sheet victory, his fourth shutout of the season. Briar Cliff's Lorenzo Volta made three saves in the loss.
BU was out-shot by a 12-8 tally but held a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal. Corner kicks were even at two apiece.
Man of the Match:
Kortlan Franke – Played his first complete, 90-minute match and was "outstanding" according to BU Head Coach Mark Heath-Preston.
Coach Mark Heath-Preston:
"It was a good result against a very good Briar Cliff team. The boys worked hard and followed the plan. It was important for us to have a good performance after the last couple of games. We need to keep working hard and doing the right things."
"Also, thanks to the supporters that followed us to the game."
Up Next:
The Bruins begin a four-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 15 when they host the University of Jamestown at 2 p.m. at Bellevue Soccer Club.
Notes:
- Bellevue plays four-straight and six of their final nine matches at home where they are 3-0-0 this season.
- The nine-match unbeaten streak matches BU's longest since closing out the 2016 season with nine-straight victories.
- Bellevue is now 11-0-3 in their last 14 matches dating back to last season. That is the longest stretch without a loss in program history.