OMAHA, Neb. - Each of Bellevue University women's soccer team's two leading goal scorers found the back of the net as the Bruins claimed a 2-0 victory over the College of Saint Mary on Wednesday evening in Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference action at Tranquility Park. The win is the fifth in a row for the Bruins (10-1-0) who improve to 2-0-0 in MCAC play. CSM drops to 5-4-0 on the year and 1-2-0 within the MCAC.
Bellevue struck early when junior Betsy Fischenich (Omaha, Neb.) notched her 12th tally of the season in the 6th minute. Freshman Madison Stumpf (Cheyenne, Wyo.) delivered a throw-in to senior Yaritza Estrada (Omaha, Neb.) at the near side of the 18-yard box. Estrada was able to maneuver herself around to deliver a cross to Fischenich whose one-time shot to the opposite side of goal from eight yards out beat the keeper for a 1-0 BU advantage.
BU earned a free kick in the 23rd minute but junior Kate Petersen's (Springfield, Neb.) delivery into the box picked up too much velocity when it skimmed off the wet ground past the goal line. CSM narrowly avoided going down 2-0 off of a corner kick by sophomore Lauren Clark (Portsmouth, England). Clark drove a low ball into the box to sophomore Michelle Dolder (Cali, Colombia) who delivered a shot between a defender's legs but into the arms of a sprawled out Courtney Smith.
The Flames were given a great opportunity to score following a Bellevue foul after a shot which led to a direct free kick from the edge of the 6-yard box but Abby Zach's attempt was stopped by the BU wall for a team save to keep the match 1-0.
The College of Saint Mary had a final chance to score before halftime but Christa Manning's shot from just inside the 18-yard box fell into the waiting arms of freshman goalkeeper Laurence Rodier (Quebec, Canada).
Slippery conditions were nearly costly for Bellevue in the 53rd minute when Stumpf slipped on the turf allowing a ball to taken by Sarah McGuire but her attempt went wide of the net to allow BU to keep their advantage.
Senior Mercy Darkoah (Sheffield, England) found herself along down the wing following a through ball by Fischenich. With only the keeper between her and goal, Darkoah was able to get into the box and unleash an attempt from inside of 10 yards but her try just snuck over the cross bar.
The Bruins had a near-identical scenario play out in the 79th minute when Fischenich delivered another terrific through ball, this time to Dolder. Dolder used her speed to fly past the CSM defense and allow herself the opportunity to get a shot off but her attempt went wide of goal.
The Bruins, however, were finally able to double their advantage in the 86th minute when Darkoah took advantage of a through ball by Estrada. Estrada played it from midfield to Darkoah streaking down the near side. Darkoah made her way into the box and chipped a shot over keeper Courtney Smith's head and into the back of the net.
Rodier only needed to make one save to earn her second shutout and fourth straight victory in place of injured classmate Bailey Petzoldt (Hastings, Neb.) to improve her record to 4-0-0 on the season. BU out-shot the Flames by a final count of 14-7, including a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Bellevue will play next on Saturday, Oct. 18 when they host Oklahoma Wesleyan University in an MCAC contest at 1:00 p.m. at Tranquility Park in Omaha, Neb.
