BELLEVUE, Neb. -- For the fourth time this season the Bellevue University men's soccer team has swept the North Star Athletic Association's Player of the Week awards.
Senior Alan Carr was honored as Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore Rob Smith was recognized as Offensive Player of the Week after helping the Bruins to their first-ever North Star Tournament Championship and third straight conference tournament championship overall.
Smith scored a goal in each of Bellevue's two matches at the North Star Tournament and drew the foul that led to the game-winning penalty kick goal. In the Bruins' 3-0 semifinal victory over Viterbo, Smith scored a goal and assisted on the game-winner. In Sunday's championship match Smith scored a first half goal to put the Bruins on the board first and was very active throughout the afternoon. He made a number of quality runs with the ball and drew a foul inside the area to set up the game-winning goal and secure the North Star's automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Tournament.
Carr was part of Bellevue's stellar defensive unit that limited the opposition to just one goal in the North Star Tournament. Carr was terrific out of his regular center back position against Viterbo in the semifinal, helping lead the Bruins to their eight clean sheet of the season and limiting the V-Hawks to just 11 shots. He againt showed his versatility in the final, staying in the outside back position and helping to hold the Jimmies to just four shots on goal as Bellevue claimed their first-ever NSAA Tournament title.
Bellevue (11-3-4) is currently awaiting the draw for the NAIA National Tournament to find out who and when they will be playing in the Opening Round. The draw is scheduled to take place on Monday, Nov. 16 with Opening Round matches slated for Saturday, Nov. 21 at campus sites.
