LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Kortlan Franke's first collegiate goal proved to be the game-winner for the Bellevue University men's soccer team as the sixth-ranked Bruins dispatched Viterbo University 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon at V-Hawks Soccer Field.
Records:
#6 Bellevue: 14-0-2
Viterbo: 2-11-1
Recap: #6 Bellevue 3, Viterbo 0
The Bruins scored inside the game's first 10 minutes for the sixth time in their last eight games and never looked back en route to a 3-0 win over Viterbo.
Kortlan Franke put BU on the board in the 10th minute with his first collegiate goal.
Bellevue took an opportunity to seize additional momentum headed into halftime when Morgan Penn's 45th minute rebound effort doubled the BU lead to 2-0. Inaki Aldao took the initial shot and Penn pounced on the rebound for his first collegiate goal.
The Bruins out-shot Viterbo 20-2 (7-2) at the intermission.
An own goal in the 70th minute gave the Bruins a 3-0 advantage.
AJ Jarvis stopped both V-Hawk shots he was tasked with saving to earn his eighth clean sheet of the season.
Nate Regas made 10 saves in goal for Viterbo.
For the match Bellevue out-shot their hosts by a 38-2 (13-2 on goal) and held a sizable 12-2 edge in corner kicks.
Man of the Match:
Kortlan Franke - Scored his first collegiate goal - the game-winner - in the 10th minute. Additionally, he showed great composure on the ball and got better as the game went on.
Coach Mark Heath-Preston:
"We had more than enough chances to score more which was good; we just have to be more clinical. The passing and the movement of the team was great and I was happy with the overall performance."
Up Next:
Bellevue returns home on Wednesday, Oct. 31 when they host Waldorf University at 3:30 p.m. at Bellevue Soccer Club.
Notes:
- Bellevue wrapped up their final road trip of the regular-season with three wins to improved their record away from home to 7-0-2.
- The Bruins are once again ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25, which was released on Tuesday afternoon.
- BU is unbeaten in their last 21 matches (18-0-3), a streak which began on Oct. 7, 2017.
- A total of 15 different players have now scored for the Bruins, the most goal scorers the team has had in a season since records are available.
