COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Abigail Meyer scored the lone goal from a penalty kick as the Bellevue University women's soccer team suffered their first defeat of the season, falling 1-0 to host Columbia College on Saturday afternoon at R. Marvin Owens Field.

Records:

Bellevue: 2-1-0
Columbia: 1-0-0

Recap: Columbia 1, BU 0

Bellevue and Columbia, playing their first game of the season, began the game tentatively, trading barbs and prodding.

The Cougars turned up the offensive pressure as the half wore on, out-shooting BU 9-2 in the period but landed just one shot on target.

The Bruins found more comfort going forward later in the half with some dangerous runs and through balls. However, BU was unable to turn any of that forward progress into a quality scoring chance as neither of their two shots found their way on frame.

Marilia Lages had Bellevue's best chance of the half in the 43^rd minute, taking a pass behind the Cougar defense against just the keeper but rushed her shot from outside the 18 wide of goal.

Columbia had arguably their best chance in the final seconds of the period, winning consecutive corner kicks. The second of which resulted in a bounding ball in the box but the Bruin defense was able to clear their line and the game advanced, scoreless, to halftime.

The second half featured much of the same as the first. Columbia had an advantage in shots while the Bruins made several unsuccessful runs forward in the attack and the game was scoreless until there were just under 16 minutes to play.

In the 75^th minute, Bellevue was whistled for a hand ball in the box and Columbia's Abigail Meyer converted the PK to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.

Columbia had a chance to extend their lead in the 79^th minute with a flurry of chances on goal but came up empty thanks to a save by BU's Sabrina Staufenbiel and Jewel Morelan putting her second attempt over the crossbar.

In the closing minutes, Bellevue pushed their entire team forward in hopes of pulling back on terms.

It nearly worked when Lages nearly had a chance to put home the equalizer in the 88^th minute but was unable to reach a ball played in behind the defense before Cougar goalkeeper Kate Marshall came off her line to cover it up at the edge of the box.

That was as close as BU would come to scoring.

Marshall was only tasked with making one save to preserve the shutout victory for the Cougars.

Staufenbiel totaled five saves in goal for the Bruins.

Player of the Game:

Lays Freitas – Led BU throughout on and off the ball. When BU went down a goal, she drove the Bruins forward and it rubbed off on everyone.

Coach Tom White:

"We are disappointed to come away with a loss as we defended very well and limited Columbia to any clear cut chances. They are a great side and we felt as the game went on that we grew and thought we were going to snatch a victory. We learn from it and move on.

Up Next:

Bellevue wraps up their three-game road swing with a visit to Tabor College on Tuesday evening. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. from Joel H. Wiens Stadium.

Notes:

• Despite the loss, BU extended their run of not conceding from the run of play to 474:08, dating back to Oct. 23, 2019.