PAPILLION, Neb. -- Giovani Lima Soares scored game-winner with 5:08 remaining to lift the No. 5 Bellevue University men's soccer team to a 3-2 win over No. 16 Columbia College on Wednesday evening.
With their fourth-straight victory, Bellevue improves to 10-0-2 on the season while Columbia dips to 6-2-2.
Jeremiah Hteh gave the Bruins the game's first lead with a 39th minute strike. Hteh received a ball in the box and made a quick move before shooting from 15 yards out. His shot ricocheted off a Cougar defender and beat keeper Alejandro Munoz, who could only watch helplessly.
Bellevue dominated the first half in every statistical category, out-shooting Columbia 10-1 in the opening 45 minutes including accounting for all seven shots on goal.
Out of the intermission, Columbia controlled play early in the second half. Their efforts were rewarded in the 63rd minute. Joao Pimenta saved a ball of the endline and chipped a cross into the box for Miguel Gonzalez who headed a perfectly placed ball into the upper corner of the goal.
After the goal, Bellevue attempted a quick restart that the referee blew dead to the objection of the Bruin players and staff, ultimately leading to a red card for midfielder Jose-Miguel Boggio.
Alvaro Moros Sanz put the Bruins back in front less than two minutes later, scoring on a 65th minute penalty kick. Edwin Cisneros made a darting run up the near side and into the box before being hauled down from behind to earn the Bruins the spot kick.
That lead lasted for just 33 second as Fabricio Roberti sent in a cross from the far side the Luke Hines rose up for and headed to the back post to again equalize.
Columbia briefly looked to take the lead in the 82nd minute but had a goal disallowed following an offside ruling.
Giovani Lima Soares stunned the Cougars with his headed goal in the 85th minute. Matias Daniel-Doren secured possession 30 yards from goal and found Kai Yoshida on the win with time to settle the ball and deliver a cross into the box.
The Bruins out-shot Columbia 16-7 on the day and totaled 10 shots on goal to the Cougars' two. Fouls were even at four apiece and BU was whistled for 14 fouls, including six yellows and a red card, while Columbia was whistled for 13 fouls which featured a pair of yellows.
Bellevue returns home on Saturday, Oct. 12 as they host Dordt University at Papillion Landing for a 1 p.m. kick-off.
