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The 2019 Bellevue men's soccer season featured numerous highs and lows as the Bruins attempted to navigate their schedule while wearing a large target on their back throughout.
After posting an unbeaten regular-season the year prior, Bellevue received their opponents' best effort in virtually every outing in 2019.
Bellevue began their 2019 season with a devastating double-overtime loss at Morningside by a 2-1 score. The loss marked the end of a 22-game regular-season unbeaten streak that dated back to Oct. of 2017.
The Bruins rebounded with a 1-0 win at Grand View less than a week later with AJ Jarvis recording three saves and Inaki Aldao providing the eventual game-winner in the 80th minute.
The next two weeks proved very unkind to Bellevue as the Bruins suffered four-straight one-goal defeats including a 1-0 home loss to a Columbia team that finished the year at 22-1-0 and reached the National Tournament semifinals.
Standing at 1-5-0 and facing reigning National Champion Central Methodist, Bellevue looked to turn their season around. The Bruins went on the road to Fayette, Mo. and scored a 2-1 triumph over the Eagles. Inaki Aldao and Alex Cuenca scored second half goals to rally the Bruins from 1-0 down with Cuenca scoring the winner off an Austyn Brinkley pass in the 87th minute. Cuenca earned A.I.I. Player of the Week honors for his part in the victory.
That win over CMU kicked off a three-game win streak for BU. In the two subsequent games, Bellevue picked up wins over both Briar Cliff and Northwestern. Andy Janssen scored a goal in each contest to earn A.I.I. Player of the Week.
Following a loss to Concordia, Bellevue defeated Hannibal-LaGrange and picked up a draw at Midland, as the Bruins emerged from September with a 5-6-1 overall record.
October started on a forgettable note with a high-scoring loss at Oklahoma Wesleyan but Bellevue responded by routing Dordt by a 5-1 margin. Toby Millward picked up the week's A.I.I. Player of the Week award, totaling a pair of goals and two assists in those games.
Bellevue kept the goals coming in their next fixture, a 4-0 road win at Viterbo, that featured four different goal-scorers.
In their next game, Bellevue had Hastings on the ropes leading 1-0 with under 15 minutes to play but an unfortunate defensive miscue proved costly and the Bruins had to settle for a draw.
Consecutive 1-0 losses, away and home to Waldorf, saw Bellevue wrap up the regular-season at 7-9-2. The Bruins entered the A.I.I. Tournament as the No. 3 seed and a third-consecutive match-up with the Warriors was their prize.
The third time was the charm as the Bruins defeated Waldorf 3-0 to reach the A.I.I. Championship Game. Toby Millward led the way with a pair of goals and BU was just one win away from qualifying for another National Tournament.
Bellevue struck first in the title game with Inaki Aldao bagging the opener in the 53rd minute. However, Georgia Gwinnett equalized in the 77th minute and the game remained level before proceeding to overtime. The Grizzlies scored 3:58 into the extra period to bring the season to a devastating halt.
In total, Bellevue played three of four National Semifinalists in 2019 going 1-1-1. Bellevue defeated Central Methodist, drew Hastings, and lost to Columbia.
Season Leaders:
Goals: Inaki Aldao, 7
Assists: Inaki Aldao, Toby Millward, Ricky Reyes, 4
Points: Inaki Aldao, 18
Saves: AJ Jarvis, 51
Goals Against Average: Harry Wray, 0.90
Team Stats:
Goals For: 31
Assists: 24
Goals Against: 27
Saves: 62
Shutouts: 7
Opponent Shutouts: 4
Quick Recap:
Throughout a tumultuous season in which many players wound up featuring more prominently than they had a year ago – or perhaps expected to at the outset of the campaign – the Bruins turned in an 8-10-2 record. For the season-straight season, Bellevue earned their way through to the A.I.I. Tournament Final where they suffered a 2-1 overtime defeat to host Georgia Gwinnett.
The Bruins graduate just one player, defender Finlay Bloodworth, off their 2019 team. They return 19 players that featured with regularity, including 11 that started at least 10 games last season. Additionally, BU returns 30 of the 31 goals they scored and 21 of 24 assists recorded this past year.
Those returners, in addition to seven newcomers that include six internationals and a Division I transfer, should provide BU with the opportunity to get back to their familiar National Tournament quality.
Post-Season Awards, Honors
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Andy Wilkinson (Junior, Defender)
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Inaki Aldao (Junior, Forward)
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Toby Millward (Junior, Midfielder)
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Finlay Bloodworth (Senior, Defender)
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Federico Umani Ronchi (Freshman, Midfielder)
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AJ Jarvis (Junior, Goalkeeper)
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Andy Janssen (Freshman, Forward)
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Alex Cuenca (Freshman, Midfielder)
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