OMAHA, Neb. – Junior Betsy Fischenich (Omaha, Neb.) scored both goals to lead the short-handed Bellevue University women's soccer team to a 2-0 non-conference triumph over Northwestern (Iowa) University on Saturday evening at Tranquility Park in the season-opener for both schools.
The Bruins got things going early when Fischenich's fifth minute goal put BU ahead by a score of 1-0. A touch from sophomore Michelle Dolder (Cali, Colombia) just past midfield allowed senior Mercy Darkoah (Sheffield, England) maneuver her way to the edge of the six-yard box before she sent a cross to Fischenich whose one-timer beat the Northwestern keeper.
Fischenich would add her second goal of the match in the opening minutes of the second half. She forced a Northwestern turnover and touched the ball to the penalty spot where she teed up a hard shot. The shot caromed off Naomi Schimmel's hands and found the back of the net to double the BU advantage in the 47th minute.
Northwestern wasn't without chances, however, but freshman keeper Bailey Petzoldt (Hastings, Neb.) did just about everything short of standing on her head to keep the clean sheet. She finished with four saves for the match.
The Red Raiders had two point-blank chances in the first half – about four minutes apart but both times Petzoldt stonewalled Alissa Christoffer. The best chance for a Northwestern goal came in the 26th minute as the Red Raiders mounted a two-on-goalkeeper attack. Jahdai Dunk delivered a pass to Tyler Farr but the shot was, once again, saved by Petzoldt.
Fischenich had numerous opportunities to convert a hat trick but narrowly missed on three separate occasions.
Bellevue played the final 85:35 of the match short-handed following a red card issued in the fifth minute. The final 6:06 was played with just nine players for Bellevue following a second disqualification. Despite playing down an outfielder, Bellevue out-shot the Red Raiders by a count of 10-9 (each team put four on goal) and held a 11-2 advantage in corner kicks.
BU will be back in action on Wednesday when they host Concordia (Neb.) University at Tranquility Park in Omaha, Neb. at 7 pm.
