PAPILLION, Neb. -- Ketlyn Rota scored the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute to lift the Bellevue University women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over College of Saint Mary on Wednesday evening.
Bellevue improves to 3-0-0 on the year while the Flames remain winless, falling to 0-2-2.
The Bruins started on the front foot, briefly appearing to take a lead in the first 20 seconds before an offside flag was raised.
A 17th minute corner for the Bruins resulted in Ketlyn Rota getting a head to the cross but a Flames defender cleared the ball off the line and her follow-up attempt was corralled by the keeper.
Adi Kasel put BU in front with her second goal of the season coming on a 27th minute strike. Maju Serrano sent a cross to the far post where Kasel settled the ball and slid a low shot across the goal mouth into the back of the net.
Kasel nearly doubled the lead less than a minute later. After intercepting a pass in the CSM defensive end and a quick step-back move, she unleashed a shot to the near post that Alivia Schade turned away with a leaping effort.
Bellevue took their 1-0 lead into halftime.
The second half was more back-and-forth, as opposed to BU controlling the pace of play as they did for large swaths of the first half.
CSM equalized in the 72nd minute. Abbie Anderson, dribbling in front of the BU bench sent a high cross to the back post that was just outside the reach of Alessia Ricciardi. The ball landed at the feet of Marissa Ring who one-timed a shot home to level the game at one apiece.
Bellevue countered roughly 10 minutes later with sustained pressure. A pair of corners and a failed clearance by the Flames saw Ashlynn Coreas secure possession 30 yards from goal. She sent a free ball into the box where Rota controlled, turned and fired a shot for her first goal of the year.
The defense held from there for BU, as the Bruins did not allow a shot the rest of the way.
Bellevue out-shot CSM 13-4 on the night, putting seven shots on goal to the Flames' two, and piled up a 6-1 advantage in corners. Schade finished with four saves in goal while Ricciardi finished with one.
The Bruins return home to Papillion Landing on Saturday evening for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Tabor College.
