OLATHE, Kan. -- For the third time in their last 31 games, the Bellevue University men's soccer team played a nail-biter with MidAmerica Nazarene University, this time ending in a 0-0 draw.
Records:
#12 Bellevue: 2-3-1
#9 MNU: 2-1-1
BU 0, MNU 0
MidAmerica Nazarene recorded the first real scoring chance of the game in the 13th minute with Jony Munoz taking a pass on the counter but Romeo Paparesta came out to meet him and make the save.
Bellevue's first real scoring chance, and their best of the match, came in the 33rd minute. Oumar Sissoko sent in a cross for Jaeger Erickson to run onto at the far side of the box but his first touch attempt was blocked away by a defender.
Just moments later Ethan Martinez unleashed a shot from near the top of the box for the Pioneers but again Paparesta made the save look academic.
After halftime, MNU controlled the attacking possession and recorded several dangerous scoring chances in the second period.
Mathieu Ecourtemer took a free kick in a dangerous area but his shot was poorly hit and skipped well wide of goal in the 52nd minute. Nicolas Theberge got free on goal with a one-on-one opportunity with Paparesta in the 58th minute but the Bruin keeper made another standout save.
The best Pioneer chance the rest of the way came off the right foot of Rick Hovinga in the 63rd minute. He rifled a shot to the far side of goal but Paparesta punched the ball away with a diving stop.
Paparesta turned in another diving save in the 71st minute on a longer-range attempt from Marco Izurieta.
In the game's waning seconds, with Bellevue whistled for a yellow card, MNU earned a free kick. With eight seconds to play, Theberge sent a ball into the box but the Bruin defense cleared the danger to secure the draw.
MidAmerica Nazarene finished the game with a 15-3 advantage in shots, including an 11-1 edge in the second half.
Paparesta finished with seven saves for the Bruins while Enzo Carvalho made a pair of stops for MNU as both keepers earned clean sheets.
Man of the Match:
Coach Mark Heath-Preston:
"Top performance against a top team. It was a good result that we now have to build on."
Up Next:
Bellevue travels to Seward, Neb. on Saturday, Sept. 10 for a 1 p.m. kick-off at Bulldog Stadium against Concordia University.
