WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Inaki Aldao scored in the 80th minute to give the No. 14 Bellevue University men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over Grand View University in the Vikings' season-opener on Wednesday evening at Tiger Field on the campus of Valley High School.
Records:
#14 Bellevue: 1-1-0
Grand View: 0-1-0
Recap: #14 BU 1, GVU 0
Despite being out-shot 12-4 on the night, and surrendering eight corners while winning just one, Bellevue got an 84th minute goal from Inaki Aldao to earn a gritty 1-0 win at Grand View.
Grand View had the first great chance of the game around the 18th minute but the one-on-one chance with AJ Jarvis was skied over the goal.
Bellevue's best chance of the first half came in the ~25 minute after winning a corner. Toby Millward sent a cross in but the Bellevue shot carried over the crossbar.
The Vikings held a 5-2 edge in shots at the intermission. Both of Bellevue's shots were on goal while just one of Grand View's found its way on target.
Neither team had many scoring opportunities for much of the second half until the final 15 minutes.
Grand View had what appeared to be a golden chance in front of goal but a mis-hit strike saw the ball stay out of the goal. After an offside took away a Viking scoring chance with just over minutes to play, Bellevue capitalized at the other end.
Inaki Aldao took a pass 20 yards from goal, dribbled in and beat oncoming keeper Luis Carvajal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead late.
Grand View had one more good chance at goal but a shot around the 87th minute deflected wide for a corner kick as BU held on for a quality road victory.
AJ Jarvis finished with three saves in front of goal for Bellevue to earn the clean sheet.
Coach Mark Heath-Preston:
"It was a scrappy first half and we had to make some changes halfway through the second half. Ricky Reyes and Marvin Ramirez came on and gave us some energy and fight. Inaki took his only chance really well and the boys did well to deal with some late pressure."
Man of the Match:
Inaki Aldao -- Bellevue's leading scorer from a year ago, got on the scoresheet late to send Bellevue to a victory. It was his only chance of the match and he calmly secured his 19th goal as a Bruin.
Up Next:
Bellevue travels to Atchison, Kan. on Saturday, Aug. 24 for a 7:30 p.m. kick-off against Benedictine University from the BC Soccer Complex.
Notes:
- The win snapped a 5-match winless run (0-4-1) against Grand View for the Bruins.
- Bellevue's last victory over the Vikings came on Oct. 24, 2012.
- BU improves to 7-0-1 in matches that follow overtime matches under Mark Heath-Preston.
- The Bruins are now 7-3-0 in their last 10 games following a loss.
