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OLATHE, Kan. -- Alvaro Capra scored the "Golden Goal" in the 108th minute off a corner kick to send the #9-ranked Bellevue University men's soccer team to a 2-1 double-overtime victory over NAIA Opening Round host #19 MidAmerica Nazarene University on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
With the victory, Bellevue improves to 16-4-2 on the year. Additionally, BU advances to the NAIA National Tournament Final Site being held from May 4-10 at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga.
MNU ends their season at 11-7-2.
Recap:
The game got off to a fast start with both teams countering at every opportunity and MidAmerica Nazarene were rewarded for their ambitious start with a goal in the eighth minute. After Bellevue was whistled for a foul just outside the penalty area along the end line, Kevin Myftiu sent a ball across the goal that Rick Hovinga slotted home for the early lead.
Bellevue wasted little time responding as Oumar Sissoko submitted a goal of the year entry, scoring on a bicycle kick in the 14th minute. Following a throw-in, Inaki Aldao won a header in the box that he sent towards Sissoko that Sissoko timed perfectly and smashed off the underside of the bar and into goal.
The Bruins appeared to have taken the lead less than two minutes later but Aldao's header was called back when the linesman flagged a Bruin for being offside on the play.
BU continued to apply pressure and dominated the remainder of the half but were unable to find a second goal.
The game proceeded to halftime level at 1-1 with the Bruins out-shooting the Pioneers 7-2 (5-2 on goal) and piling up a 3-1 corner kick advantage.
In the second half, MNU seemingly recognized they were unable to keep pace with Bellevue and, thus, opted for a more conservative possession-based approach.
That strategy seemingly worked as Bellevue, despite a 10-4 edge in shots for the half, was unable to create the same quality of scoring chances as they had in the first.
Alex Cuenca set up the chance for the game-winner with a pressuring run before unleashing a rocket shot at goal that MNU keeper Andrea Dorella tipped over the goal for a Bruin corner.
Toby Millward sent a ball into the box that momentarily bounced around before Alvaro Capra got his foot to the ball and tapped it into the back of the net for the game-winner.
Bellevue finished the game with a 22-9 advantage in shots, 11-2 in shots on goal, and 6-5 in corner kicks.
AJ Jarvis stopped one of the two shots on target he faced while Dorella totaled eight saves while seeing the lion's share of shots come his way.
Man of the Match:
Andy Wilkinson - Had a huge game at the back for Bellevue.
Coach Mark Heath-Preston:
"I'm delighted for the boys! We have been on the road for so many games this season and to continue to put in performances like this is unbelievable. MNU did really well to move the ball around and stretched us at times. We had more than enough chances to win the game but they made us work for it."
Up Next:
The Bruins will learn of their next opponent once all 10 Opening Round sites have completed play. As of publishing, it appears that the Bruins would unofficially play either St. Thomas University (Fla.) or Columbia College (Mo.), pending the outcome of the match between William Carey University and Lindsey Wilson University.
Notes:
- The win is Bellevue's fifth straight in Opening Round matches as BU improves to 6-2-0 all-time in Opening Round play.
- Bellevue returns to the NAIA Final Site for the fifth time (2009, 2014, 2015, 2018) with a 6-6-0 all-time record in NAIA National Tournament play.
- The overtime victory is the first ever by a Bellevue team in the National Tournament, snapping a record of 0-3-0.
- With the victory Bellevue is now 6-3-1 against National Tournament teams during the 2020-21 season.
