PAPILLION, Neb. -- The Bellevue University women's soccer team twice saw a one-goal lead erased before Bruna Bielski converted a 71st minute penalty to put the Bruins ahead for good, delivering a 3-2 win for the home side in the season-opener for both teams.
Recap:
Maddy Vasquez got the season off to a fast start with a goal in the fifth minute. After the Bruins won a free kick, Bruna Bielski sent a free kick into the box that Vasquez headed off a bounce and into the goal.
The Bruin lead lasted less than four minutes before Josie Maasdam pulled NWC level, as she emerged from a skirmish to tap in a rebound off an initial stop.
Bellevue nudged back in front on a Northwestern Own goal in the 17th minute.
The game proceeded to halftime with Bellevue in front 2-1 and a slight 4-3 edge in shots.
Just under nine minutes into the second half, Northwestern again pulled even as they were gifted an own goal off a corner kick.
Following a hand ball in the box, the referee pointed to the spot awarding the Bruins a penalty kick. Bielski stepped up and calmly slotted home the go-ahead goal and BU saw out the victory from there.
Northwestern's Kaelin Alons made four saves in the loss while Bruin keeper Sabrina Staufenbiel recorded one stop.
Bellevue finished with a 14-7 advantage in shots (7-3 on goal) and won the corner kick battle by a 3-2 margin.
Coach Tom White:
"It's a good start to the season and something we can build on. It was scrappy at times but we deserved the victory today. Courtney Wallingford led well, Morgan McIlnay put in a typical performance that she showed from last season, and Riley Stock did well starting her first collegiate game."
Up Next:
Bellevue travels to Mitchell, S.D. on Wednesday, Aug. 25 for a 5 p.m. kick-off against Dakota Wesleyan University from the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex.
Notes:
- Bellevue improves to 18-8-2 all-time in season-openers and a perfect 3-0-0 under the direction of head coach Tom White.
- The Bruins are now 32-8-4 against teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference dating to the start of the 2011 season.
- The victory represents BU's first over the Red Raiders since Sept. 3, 2016 as the Bruins improve to 9-2-1 all-time against Northwestern.
