BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Edgar Guzman's 80th minute goal was not enough to help the Bellevue University men's soccer team overcome a two-goal deficit as the Bruins fell to Briar Cliff University by a 2-1 score on Wednesday evening at Bellevue Soccer Club.
The loss is BU's third in a row as the team drops to 2-4-1 on the season. Briar Cliff, meanwhile, has now won four-straight to improve to 5-1-0 on the year.
Prichard Sibanda scored his NAIA-leading 13th goal to put Briar Cliff in front in the 28th minute. Kye Edwards played a long ball out of the back up the near sideline that Sibanda reached and carried into the box before beating the keeper to the wide side of the net.
The Chargers took that 1-0 advantage into halftime despite a couple good looks inside the final minute of the period for Bellevue.
Early in the second half Briar Cliff had the better of play and even doubled their advantage in the 66th minute off a goal from Kye Edwards. Rodrigo Oliveira played a cross from the near corner that Edwards beat a defender to and volleyed his attempt into the net for his first goal of the season.
Guzman pulled the Bruins within striking distance in the 80th minute after BU won a free kick just outside the Briar Cliff penalty area. Guzman bent his shot around the wall and tucked the ball neatly into the short side corner for his third goal of the season.
Bellevue out-shot Briar Cliff by a 17-15 margin with each team putting six shots on target and gaining eight corner kicks.
Harry Wray made four saves for the Bruins in goal but it was BCU's Charlie Enright who picked up the win with a pair of point-blank saves on Bellevue attempts in the box. The biggest save from Enright came in the 85th minute when Inaki Aldao took control of a loose ball and put a shot over the oncoming Enright that he managed to get a hand to and turn away.
The Bruins return to action on Saturday, Sept. 16 with an 8 p.m. kickoff against Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.
