CLINTON, Iowa -- Senior Tobias Maertzke scored a goal and assisted on another as the Bellevue University men's soccer team rallied to take a late lead before settling for a 2-2 double-overtime draw at No. 15 Ashford University on Saturday afternoon.
Ashford started the scoring early with a fifth minute goal. Adam Wood sent a cross to Cam St. Prix Mitchell at the back of the six-yard box from the far side of the field where St. Prix Mitchell tapped in the ball for a 1-0 Ashford lead in the early going.
Bellevue struggled to get forward consistently throughout the match but finally broke through in the 73rd minute with Maertzke's fifth goal of the season. Sophomore Rob Smith played a ground ball through the middle of the pitch to Maertzke at the top of the 18-yard box. Maertzke took a touch to settle and blasted a shot off the keeper's gloves that trickled into the net to knot the score at 1-1.
Just a minute and 27 seconds later, in the 75th minute, Bellevue took their only lead of the match when Maertzke assisted on freshman Alejandro Pena's first career goal. Pena took Maertzke's pass from just inside the 18-yard box and sent in a hard shot that, again, caromed off the keeper's gloves and into the net.
Bellevue looked as though they would hang on until an 86th minute free kick was awarded just outside of the penalty area. The call proved decisive as Casey Culver delivered a well-struck ball around the Bruin wall and into the net to allow the Saints to tie the match a 2-2 and force extra time.
Bellevue is now 1-0-2 against teams that are either ranked or receiving votes and 3-1-1 in true road matches.
Junior Ben Martin made seven saves in the match to tie his season-high. Ashford out-shot Bellevue 21-16 (9-6 on goal) and won eight corner kicks while Bellevue earned five. The final foul count was 27 against the Bruins and 18 against Ashford.
The Bruins (5-1-2) return to the pitch on Wednesday, Sept. 23 with a 7 p.m. match in Fremont, Neb. against Midland.
