Bruins outlast MACU in thriller to reach final site

NAIA Final Site Bracket

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Following a thrilling 3-3 match, the Bellevue University men's soccer team eliminated No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Mid-America Christian University on penalty kicks in the NAIA National Tournament Second Round presented by Select Sport America.

Taariq Ganga came up with a save on MACU's seventh PK of the shootout and Jose-Miguel Boggio converted his attempt to defeat the Evangels 7-6. Bellevue converted all seven of their attempts and remain perfect (12-12) in PK shootouts this postseason.

BU moves to 13-5-4 on the year and will advance to the NAIA National Tournament Final Site for the sixth time in program history. Mid-America Christian wraps up their season at 17-0-4.

MACU threated to score first in the 19^th minute. The Evangels won a corner kick that Sebastian Rebolledo got his head to but his attempt clanged off the crossbar and the game remained scoreless.

Over the next 10 minutes, Mid-America Christian recorded the next couple of shots, one saved by Taariq Ganga and another sailing high.

Claudio Fuentealba came up with his lone official save of the first half on a rifling shot from Jake Cover in the 25^th minute just eight yards from goal.

Bellevue broke through in the 30^th minute via a header from Caedmon Schwanke. Giovani Lima Soares sent a corner into the box that Schwanke rose up to meet and nudge in the upper corner for his sixth strike of the season.

The Evangels tied the game up in the 41^st minute with Henry Tolbert blasting a shot from 30 yards. He chested the failed clearance attempt and hit it on the volley as it dipped under the bar for the equalizer. It was his first goal since August and just his second of the year.

Álvaro Moros Sanz provided a huge lift in the dying seconds of the first half, scoring with just five seconds left on the clock. BU won a free kick with 15 seconds left that Fletcher Hedge played to Cover who passed on to Gabriel Dias Juliani. Dias Juliani sent the initial shot on frame which Fuentealba stopped but did not corral. The rebound found Moros Sanz inside the six and he punched home the strike for his sixth goal of the year.

Shots were 7-6 in the first half in favor of BU, with the Bruins holding a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal.

Mid-America Christian equalized again in the 54^th minute with some quick passing to spring Charlie Betts in behind the defense. Jack Price started things with a pass to Diego Real who found Charlie Betts streaming down the wing. Betts ripped a shot inside the near post for his seventh goal of the season.

The game stayed tied for just 3:12 as the Bruins nudged back in front in the 57^th minute with Antonio Capra finding Kevin Becerril at the top of the 18. Becerril found Cover to his right who curled a shot inside the near post for a 3-2 BU lead. The goal was Cover's fifth of the year.

Just 48 seconds later MACU responded as Price again found real and real hit a shot off the bounce from the top of the box for his second goal of the season.

Kolby Godbolt nearly gave the Evangels their first lead of the game in the 60^th minute, as his volley from just a few yards out was speared by a diving Taariq Ganga to keep the game 3-3.

Following a 10-minute flurry of activity, the game slowed down with the Bruins maintaining the majority of possession, though shots were few and far between for the two sides.

MACU twice nearly nabbed a dramatic victory in the waning minutes.

In the 88^th a cross into the box saw a flick on to Price at the edge of the six but his header missed wide.

The 90^th minute saw Pietro Musso rip a shot on goal from near the penalty spot but Ganga against came up with a diving stop, punching the ball away. Betts' follow-up was blocked out of play for a corner by Schwanke to send the match to extra time.

Chances were minimal in the first extra time period. Perhaps the best chance of the period came on a misplay in the 100^th minute that saw Antonio Capra come up with the ball about 25 yards from goal. He took a few touches and set a shot along the ground that never troubled Fuentealba.

In the second extra time, Cover committed a foul on Godbolt near the endline at the edge of the 18 to set up MACU with a 105^th minute free kick. Real chipped a ball into the box, but a Bruin defender got a head to it to turn it away. The ball ended up at the feet of Francois Geris-Rey but his shot sailed well over the crossbar.

Price produced what looked to be the final shot of extra time, from about 20 yards, send a shot along the ground towards goal but again Ganga stopped the attempt.

The Evangels were awarded a penalty kick with three seconds left in the game and after a lengthy Bruin protest, Price stepped to the spot. His left-footed kick curled wide right to send the game to a penalty shootout.

Penalty Shootout:

The Bruins advance to the NAIA National Tournament Final Site which will be held at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan. from Nov. 27-Dec. 4. Gametimes and match-ups for the Final Site will officially be announced later this weekend.