COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- Sami Reding scored a pair of goals as the Bellevue University women's soccer team defeated Northwestern College 5-0 on Saturday afternoon at Lewis Central High School.
With the victory, Bellevue improved to 2-0-0, while Northwestern remained winless, falling to 0-3-0.
The early action saw both teams feel each other out, with the Red Raiders seeing the first quality scoring chance in the 27th minute. Alessia Ricciardi made a diving attempt to push the low shot by Avril Baccam wide of the post.
Maju Serrano opened the scoring in the 34th minute. Ketlyn Rota settled a clearance attempt and sent a free ball into the box that Beverley Wemhoff secured by the six. Wemhoff turned a set pass back to Serrano by the penalty spot. Serrano took a touch and blasted a shot to the top right corner for a 1-0 Bruin lead.
A little over three minutes later, Rota ran down a ball on the end line, turned, and sent a cross to the edge of six. Sami Reding ran onto the ball and volleyed home the shot for a 2-0 BU advantage in the 37th minute.
Lily Humes ran in behind the defense in the 42nd minute to collect 50-50 ball and sent a cross to near side post. Reding again ran onto the cross and one-timed a shot to the near-side upper corner.
The Bruins nearly made it 4-0 just ahead of the halftime whistle when Humes forced a turnover near the edge of the box, but Peyton Anderson saved her shot.
Bellevue took an 8-4 advantage in shots into halftime, including a 5-2 edge in shots on goal.
Reding had a chance to finish off her bid for a hat trick in the 66th minute. Adi Kasel made a run along the far sideline and whipped in a cross, but Reding's shot was knocked down and saved by Angel Huisman.
The Bruins found a fourth goal to cap off the scoring in the 75th minute when Mia Hurt knocked home a shot off Serrano's corner kick.
Humes provided a final strike in the final seconds, moving around a defender and burying a low shot to the far side of the goal with just 40 seconds to play.
Bellevue out-shot NWC 15-5 on the day and 8-2 on goal while taking a slight 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
Ricciardi stopped both shots on goal she saw to notch her second shutout of the season.
Both Anderson and Huisman stopped two shots for the Red Raiders.
Bellevue returns home to Papillion Landing on Wednesday, Aug. 28, when they host College of Saint Mary at 7:30 p.m.
