COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A pair of goals from Inaki Aldao and the game-winner from Emil Gebelhoff saw the Bellevue University men's soccer team going into hostile territory and come away with a 3-2 win over No. 7-ranked Columbia University at R. Marvin Owens Field on Wednesday evening.
Aldao gave the Bruins the lead in the 26th minute when he took a pass from Travis Hurd and beat keeper Collin Baker.
Columbia wasted no time, equalizing just 64 seconds later. Following a hand ball in the box, Adam Du Toit converted the ensuing penalty to level the match at 1-1.
The game proceeded to halftime even at 1-1 with the Cougars holding a slight 4-3 advantage in shots.
In the 54th minute Aldao once again put BU in the lead with his second strike of the game.
Bellevue kept a one-goal advantage until the 74th minute when Gebelhoff doubled the advantage. Hurd again assisted the strike and the upset was in sight.
Mako Makoanyane pulled the Cougars within a goal in the 79th minute with assists going to Juan Pablo Agredo and Lesia Thetsane.
Columbia threated with two additional shots and a corner kick over the final 11 minutes but the BU defense held to earn the victory.
Keeper AJ Jarvis came up big with four saves for Bellevue to earn his second win in as many starts. Baker made just one stop in goal for Columbia.
Man of the Match:
Inaki Aldao – The junior striker scored a pair of goals to give him the early season lead with a total of three on the year.
Head Coach Mark Heath-Preston:
"Travis Hurd was excellent again and our back three held it together at the end when Columbia came at us."
"It was also great to have Amador back with the group. Now it's back to work as we look ahead to Saturday's game."
Up Next:
Bellevue continues their three-game road swing on Saturday, Aug. 25 with a 2:30 p.m. kick-off at Schartner Field in Deerfield, Ill. against Trinity International University.
Notes:
- The win was Bellevue's first over a ranked opponent under current head coach Mark Heath-Preston.
- It was the first win over a ranked opponent for the program since they topped #6 Science & Arts (Okla.) in the 2015 NAIA National Tournament Opening Round (Nov. 21, 2015).
