OMAHA, Neb. -- Mercy Darkoah's goal with just over four minutes remaining in the second overtime gave the Bellevue University women's soccer team a dramatic 2-1 victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan University Saturday night in the MCAC Tournament championship match at Tranquility Park.
With the win, Bellevue (13-3-1) advances to the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round beginning next Saturday, Nov. 17 at campus sites. The selections and pairings will be announced on Sunday evening.
Oklahoma Wesleyan ends its season with a 14-4-2 final record.
The Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead on a header by Lucinda Luevanos off a cross pass from Amber Brown-Longoria at 23:00.
Jenica Bloom tied the match at 1-1 with her team-leading 11th goal of the season with just over 11 minutes remaining in regulation. Bloom scored on a misplayed clear out by OWU's goalkeeper Lisa Amann.
Neither team scored until Darkoah drove down the right side and fired a shot from 16 yards out that found the back of the net at the 105:50 mark.
Caitlin Stier earned the win, improving to 12-3-1 on the season, recording two saves in the victory.
Both teams managed just three shots on goal in the match with the Eagles holding an 11-7 advantage in total shots.
Amann suffered the loss, falling to 13-4-1 on the season.
Scoring Summary
Oklahoma Wesleyan...1 0 0 0 - 1
Bellevue....................0 1 0 1 - 2
OW: L. Luevanos (A. Brown-Longoria), 23:00
BU: J. Bloom, 78:31
BU: M. Darkoah, 105:50
Notes:
- The Bruins will be making their third-straight appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.
- The win today marks BU's fourth-straight MCAC Tournament title
- Bellevue has won four MCAC regular season titles and five MCAC Tournament championships in school history
