OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University women's soccer team opened Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference action with a 6-3 win at in-state foe College of Saint Mary at Heritage Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Bellevue improved to 8-1-1 and 1-0 in the MCAC while CSM fell to 3-8-1 and 1-2 in conference action.
The Bruins struck first in the 23rd minute of play on Meredith Shuman's fifth goal of the season. Shuman took a pass into the box from Kenia Hernandez and beat CSM goalkeeper Jackie Swanger.
BU scored its second goal of the opening half after Swanger was called for a foul inside the box and Amy Stigge converted the penalty kick for the two-goal lead at half.
The Bruins controlled the tempo in the first half and held the Flames without a shot while BU registered 11, including five on goal.
CSM cut the Bruins' lead in half on a header by Ashley Turco off a corner kick by Abby Zach 3:29 into the second half.
Jenica Bloom netted the Bruins' first of four second half goals in the 59th minute beating the CSM goalkeeper to a loose ball leaving an empty net for the sophomore.
The Flames answered just three minutes later on goal by Zach off a corner kick that went over the head of BU goalkeeper Caitlin Stier and found the back of the net at 61:51. The goal marked Zach's MCAC-leading 11th goal of the season.
Yaritza Estrada scored her first two career goals in the 65th and 70th minutes and Mercy Darkoah scored the Bruins' final goal at 75:41 to give BU a 6-2 lead.
CSM ended the scoring on a goal by Whitney Brown at the 78:56 mark for the 6-3 final score.
With the Bruins holding a 4-2 lead, the Flames had an opportunity to get within one goal after BU was called for a foul in the box, but Stier stopped a penalty kick by Zach in the 66th minute.
BU out shot CSM 17-6 and 10-4 in shots on goal. The Bruins also tallied nine corner kicks compared to four for the Flames.
The BU women's soccer team will travel to Bethany, Okla. on Saturday, Oct. 8 for a noon match at Southwestern Christian University in MCAC action.
Game Summary
Bellevue...2-4--6
St. Mary.....0-3--3
BU, Shuman (Hernandez), 22:13
BU, Stigge (penalty kick), 43:26
CSM, Turco (Zach), 48:29
BU, Bloom (unassisted), 58:04
CSM, Zach (unassisted), 61:51
BU, Estrada (Darkoah), 64:51
BU, Estrada (unassisted), 69:41
BU, Darkoah (Bloom), 75:41
CSM, Brown (unassisted), 78:56
