OMAHA, Neb. - Senior Mercy Darkoah (Sheffield, England) scored hat trick and added an assist as the Bellevue University women's soccer team defeated visiting McPherson College by a final score of 5-1 in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon at Tranquility Park. Bellevue is now 6-1-0 with the victory, including a perfect 5-0-0 mark in home games, while the loss drops McPherson to 2-5-1 on the season.
The 75th minute saw Darkoah complete the Bruins' first hat trick of the season with a gorgeous give-and-go combination with junior Betsy Fischenich (Omaha, Neb.). Darkoah had possession on the near side and gave a touch to Fischenich near the penalty spot who gave a touch back to Darkoah. She then unleashed a one-timer the keeper could do nothing about.
Darkoah struck first for Bellevue in the 16th minute, with her fifth goal of the season. Sophomore Michelle Dolder (Cali, Colombia), who had her way on the right side of the field throughout the match, cut through the McPherson defense like a hot knife through butter and delivered a cross from just outside the 18-yard box over the head of keeper Tori Verdieck. The ball found Darkoah's head and, despite not hitting it well, she got enough of the ball to put in the back of the net for an early 1-0 advantage.
Dolder missed a chance to get a goal of her own in the 21st minute after putting a great move on the keeper and getting her to the ground. Despite that she was unable to create the best angle for herself and her shot caromed off the outside of the post.
Bellevue doubled their advantage in the 34th minute when they were able to manufacture a 2-on-1 situation in the 18-yard box. Senior Stacey Hanson (Lawton, Okla.) possessed the ball on the near side before delivering a cross on the ground to Fischenich whose one-timer beat a sliding Verdieck to put the Bruins up 2-0.
Rhea Vale put the Bulldogs back in the game just before halftime with her sixth goal of the season. McPherson won their first corner of the match in the 44th minute, which was taken by Jessica Dominguez, and with the ball bouncing in the box Vale finally put it home with a shot from in close. Vale struck the ball hard out of the air and the blast shot over the head of freshman Bailey Petzoldt (Hastings, Neb.) and snuck under the crossbar to cut the Bellevue advantage in half at 2-1.
Darkoah tallied her second goal early in the second half to re-establish the two-goal advantage for the Bruins. Dolder took the ball down the wing, dancing and pirouetting past the defense and delivering a cross to Fischenich whose initial shot was blocked back to her feet. Fischenich recollected the ball and composed herself, delivering a ground pass to sophomore Lauren Clark (Portsmouth, England) who gave the ball to Darkoah with a quick touch. Darkoah did the rest, punishing the out of position keeper with a low shot into the back of the net.
Freshman Margie Garcia (Omaha, Neb.) got onto the score sheet as well with her first career tally in the 81st minute. Darkoah sent a cross into the box and Garcia, using her knee, swung through the ball and placed it into the back of the net for an insurance goal and a 5-1 Bellevue lead.
The Bruins held a 24-5 advantage in shots over the Bulldogs and gained seven corner kicks, against just one for McPherson. The game saw 24 fouls called, 13 against Bellevue and 11 against McPherson.
Bellevue will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 24 when they host Morningside College at 5:00 p.m. in a BU women's and men's soccer double-header at Tranquility Park. The men's team will also play Morningside with that kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
