Bruins take down Bulldogs in barn-burner

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Morgan Sheard's first collegiate goal was the game-winner in a wild seven-goal affair that saw the (RV) Bellevue University women's soccer team take down (RV) Concordia University Nebraska by a 4-3 margin on Tuesday evening at Bellevue Soccer Club.

Records:

(RV) Bellevue: 2-2-0
(RV) Concordia: 2-1-2

Recap: (RV) Bellevue 4, (RV) Concordia 3

Both teams scored inside the first six minutes in a preview of what would prove to be a wild back-and-forth affair.

Maiwut Dar drew a fourth minute penalty to give BU the first chance of the game. Maria Tome Flores saw her initial attempt saved by Concordia's Lindsey Carley but Tome Flores pounced on the rebound and scored the opener.

The early lead was short-lived as CUNE answered back in the sixth minute. Madeline Haugen sent in a corner kick which was headed toward goal twice – by Morgan Raska and Lauren Martin – before Maria Deeter finally toe-poked home the goal.

Concordia struck again off a corner kick in the 23^rd minute. Lauren Martin sent the ball in and Victoria Cera headed home the go-ahead goal to put the Bulldogs up 2-1.

Tome Flores leveled the game ahead of halftime with a 39^th minute free kick to the near-side, upper corner.

At the half Bellevue held an 11-6 advantage in shots while shots on goal were even at five apiece. Concordia had a decided 5-2 advantage in corner kicks but had also committed eight fouls the Bruins' three.

Bellevue wasted little time getting the scoring going in the second half when Emily Weyant tallied a 52^nd minute strike. Following a back pass into the Concordia box, Weyant forced a turnover and found herself one-on-one with Carley and beat her low to put BU back ahead.

The Bruins added a goal off a corner of their own. Kylee Mastromonaco sent the corner into the box which was headed, but saved, by Weyant and Sheard followed up by kicking home the rebound to double the BU lead at 4-2 in the 58^th minute.

Martin pulled CUNE within a goal in the 66^th minute after making a run in behind the Bruin defense and beating Bellevue's Sabrina Staufenbiel.

That would be the end of the scoring as BU closed out the game defensively and effectively killed the clock to seal their second-straight victory.

Bellevue out-shot Concordia 20-11 (11-6 on goal) for the game while corners finished even at six apiece. The Bulldogs were whistled for 17 fouls, including a pair of yellow cards, and the Bruins were called for 12 infractions.

Sabrina Staufenbiel stopped half of the six shots she faced to earn the win. Carley totaled six saves in the losing effort for CUNE.

Up Next:

The Bruins are home again on Saturday afternoon when they host College of Saint Mary at noon at Bellevue Soccer Club.

Notes:

• Earlier today BU head coach Andy Nicolarsen announced the game against Hastings (postponed from Sept. 5) will not be rescheduled.
• Bellevue has scored at least four goals in back-to-back games for the first time since doing so against Presentation (Oct. 13) and Grace (Oct. 20) back in 2015.
• The three goals allowed by Bellevue are the most that the team has allowed in a victory since also allowing three against Dordt on Sept. 4, 2015.