Bruin men claim North Star Title, secure bid to NAIA Tournament

JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- Sophomore Rob Smith gave the Bellevue University men's soccer team a first half lead and senior Tobias Maertzke scored the game-winning penalty in the 88^th minute in Sunday afternoon's North Star Athletic Association Championship Match to deliver the Bruins their third straight conference tournament championship.

Bellevue had a chance to grab an early lead off a set piece but senior Jamie Henderson's 29^th minute header deflected off the post. A short time later Jamestown had a chance of their own but their one-on-keeper shot went over the crossbar.

The Bruins struck first in the 43^rd minute. Junior Lee Woolmore played a brilliant long ball out of the back end and ahead to Smith. Smith controlled the ball in the box, made a couple of nifty moves, and beat the keeper for a 1-0 lead.

The Jimmies had a chance to score pull level in the 63^rd minute when Jack Humphries found himself alone in the box. He unleashed a shot past junior keeper Ben Martin but Martin got some assistance from the woodwork and BU continued to hang on to their lead.

Jamestown did finally equalize in the 68^th minute. Charlie Foster received a long pass from the back Anuar Kanan and found himself alone with the keeper after a Bruin defender slipped. Martin came out charging but Foster beat him to tie the match at 1-1.

For a moment it appeared Jamestown pulled ahead in the 73^rd minute but their goal was waved off when the assistant referee's flag went up to signal offsides. A short time later, in the 75^th minute, the Jimmies won a free kick in a dangerous area but Martin came up big with another save.

Smith showed why he's one of the top creators in the country when we put on an impressive run down the wing and into the box. He drew a foul in the 88^th minute that earned a card and a penalty kick for the Bruins. Maertzke did the work from there. The German – as they're prone to do – came up with a brilliant strike on the penalty kick. The keeper guess correctly and got a hand to the ball but there was just too much pace on it and it found the back of the net for a 2-1 Bellevue lead.

The win was the 100^th in Bellevue head coach Matt Briggs' career. In his ninth season Briggs owns a career mark of 100-55-15.

The Bruins (11-3-4) secure the North Star's automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Tournament with the victory. It is the third straight season in which the Bruins have reached the National Tournament.