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The 2019 Bellevue women's soccer season was one of change and growth. Tom White took over the reigns as the program's sixth coach during the offseason with a roster that featured just 10 players with any previous NAIA experience.
Powered by a hat trick from Emily Weyant, Bellevue opened the season with a 3-1 win at Morningside on Aug. 15.
An exhibition triumph over William Penn two days later gave BU a sense of confidence headed into a big showdown with MidAmerica Nazarene, who would eventually go on to qualify for the National Tournament. In the match-up with MNU, the Bruins limited the Pioneers to just two shots on goal for the game. A 50th minute strike was the only goal in the game as Bellevue came up just short.
Bellevue bounced back with a 1-0 win over Briar Cliff in their home-opener on Aug. 24, receiving a 25th minute rebound goal off the head of Lays Freitas.
Another strong showing against another National Tournament team, Columbia – who ran through their league by winning all 15 matches including their conference tournament – saw Bellevue fall just short by a 1-0 scoreline.
A loss to Northwestern on the final day of August saw BU wrap up the month with a 2-3-0 record.
BU found some rhythm as the calendar moved to September, losing just one of five games in the month. Wins over Dordt and Concordia, by identical 2-1 scorelines, saw Bellevue move back to the .500-mark at 4-4-0. Weyant scored twice in the overtime triumph over Concordia, including the game-winner 2:56 into overtime.
A pair of draws against Tabor and at College of St. Mary, followed by a win at Waldorf saw the Bruins wrap up a six-game stretch in which they went 3-1-2 to improved their overall mark to 5-4-2.
In their next game at Viterbo, the Bruins were just seconds from extending their four-game unbeaten run. Second half goals from Emily Weyant and Emah Maahs allowed Bellevue to overcome a halftime deficit but Viterbo netted the equalizer with just 49 seconds to play in regulation and found the winner 4:17 into overtime.
Following a 1-0 setback at Baker, BU concluded their regular-season with a 2-0 Senior Day victory over Waldorf at the new Papillion Landing. Saskia Pepel scored both goals and earned A.I.I. Player of the Week honors for her efforts. Sabrina Staufenbiel posted her third shutout of the season in goal to back the effort.
Bellevue got a rematch with Viterbo to open the 2019 A.I.I. Tournament and played the V-Hawks to a scoreless draw through regulation and a pair of overtime periods before falling 4-2 on penalty kicks. Rylan Mahoney and Lays Freitas each earned A.I.I. All-Tournament Team recognition for their performances in that match.
Season Leaders:
Goals: Emily Weyant, 10
Assists: Courtney Wallingford, 5
Points: Emily Weyant, 22
Saves: Sabrina Staufenbiel, 76
Goals Against Average: Sabrina Staufenbiel, 1.38
Team Stats:
Goals For: 17
Assists: 15
Goals Against: 21
Saves: 77
Shutouts: 4
Opponent Shutouts: 6
Quick Recap: During a trying season that featured a limited roster and a number of injuries, Bellevue concluded the season with a 6-6-3 overall mark. The Bruins reached the A.I.I. Tournament where they played to a scoreless draw with Viterbo before succumbing to the eventual runners-up on penalty kicks.
BU returns 17 players off last year's roster for the 2020 campaign, many of whom got their first extended taste of collegiate athletics in 2019. Adding seven newcomers to next season's roster, the 2020 season should be one with a higher ceiling than recent campaigns.
Post-Season Awards, Honors
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Lays Freitas (Junior, Defender)
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Courtney Wallingford (Sophomore, Midfielder)
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Emah Maahs (Sophomore, Defender)
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Saskia Pepel (Sophomore, Defender)
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Rylan Mahoney (Senior, Midfielder)
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