CHICKASHA, Okla. -- Taariq Ganga came up with four saves for the No. 5-ranked Bellevue University men's soccer team in an up-and-down the field 0-0 draw at the University of Science & Arts (Okla.) on Saturday evening.
As a result, BU remains unbeaten at 6-0-2, and USAO now stands at 3-3-2 in the year.
Bellevue nearly found themselves in front nine minutes into the game. Some great give-and-go play with Edwin Cisneros and Ombeni Mubake saw Cisneros in behind space with a head of steam, but his chipped shot ricocheted off the crossbar as the game remained scoreless.
Dani Suarez accounted for USAO's first shot on goal in the 27th minute. He received a pass about 20 yards from goal, turned, and fired a quick shot that Ganga had no trouble handling.
The Bruins survived a 30th-minute giveaway deep in their own territory as the defense prevented the Drovers from even getting a shot on what looked to be a near-certain scoring chance, running the play out for a goal kick.
Despite controlling much of the attacking play in the opening 45 minutes, Bellevue entered halftime scoreless with USAO. The Bruins out-shot the Drovers 7-3 and 4-1 on goal, while Science & Arts took the only corner of the half.
Bellevue won a free kick in the 62nd minute following a reckless Drover challenge. Giovani Lima Soares sent the ball into the box, and it wound up at the feet of Matias Daniel-Doren , who missed his attempt high.
A 72nd-minute corner for the Bruins looked to open the scoring. Daniel-Doren whipped in a cross that Buster Honeywood got his head on, destined for goal, but Angel Diaz stuck his arm out and made a sprawling save at the goal line.
From there, USAO sustained pressure with it, culminating in Sebastian Boldt's 78th-minute attempt. A cross saw him receive the ball in the middle of the box, but his shot rang down off the crossbar, and Bellevue cleared it away with Jeremiah Hteh coming up with a shot at the other end.
Alvaro Jacinto used some nifty footwork before finding Jake Cover in the box, but his shot in the 85th minute was deflected wide for a corner.
Less than two minutes later, Cisneros made a run into the box, evading a couple of defenders, but Stijn Iding stepped up and made a tackle to prevent Cisneros from getting a shot off.
USAO looked to steal a late winner when a pass out of the back sprung Callum Scott in behind the Bruin back line one-on-one with Ganga but the BU keeper turned away his shot to preserve the draw.
The shutout marked the third of the season for the Bruins, who are now allowing just 0.63 goals per game.
Science & Arts out-shot Bellevue 18-16 on the night despite BU owning a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal. Corners went 8-3 in favor of the Drovers.
Bellevue travels to Atchison, Kan., on Wednesday, Sept. 25, for a 7:30 p.m. kick-off against #24-ranked Benedictine College.
