OMAHA, Neb. -- The 23rd-ranked Bellevue University women's soccer team scored three goals in just over 18 minutes of the first half en route to a 3-1 Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Waldorf College Wednesday afternoon at Tranquility Park.
The win capped a perfect conference season as the Bruins improved to 14-1 overall and 6-0 in league play. Waldorf fell to 7-10 on the season and 4-2 in the MCAC. The Bruins ran their win streak to nine games with the victory.
Bellevue will host an MCAC Tournament semifinal match next Saturday, Nov. 8. The time and opponent has yet to be determined. The championship game will be played on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the highest remaining seed in the tournament.
Betsy Fischenich gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute with a long ball over the back line that beat Warrior keeper Taylor Reeves. Kristin Hanson was credited with the assist on Fischenich's 16th goal of the season.
Mercy Darkoah scored a volley on a bounce on a long pass over the top for her team-leading 19th goal of the season at 25:32 to extend the BU lead to 2-0. She was assisted by Yaritza Estrada and Lauren Clark.
Four minutes later, Michelle Dolder made it 3-0 with a one-touch from Fischenich to Dolder who shot from just inside the 18-yard box past Reeves. It was Dolder's third goal on the year.
Waldorf avoided the shutout with a give-and-go by Melanie Chandler to Brittney Thornton back to Chandler who scored from inside the box in the 53rd minute.
Laurence Rodier (8-0) picked up her eighth win of the season, recording two saves, including a key stop in the 62nd minute when Chandler went one-on-one and nearly drilled it into the net before Rodier saved it with her body to keep the score at 3-1.
The Bruins held a commanding 31-7 advantage in shots, including an 18-3 margin in shots on goal. Reeves took the loss, collecting eight saves, all in the first half. Hanna DeVries replaced Reeves in the second half and did not surrender a goal while registering seven saves.
Check BUBruins.com later in the week for MCAC Tournament information.
