NAIA Men’s Soccer Second Round Preview

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -- The Bellevue University men's soccer team is in Delray Beach, Fla. for their NAIA National Tournament Second Round match. The Bruins will take on Lindenwood-Belleville on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. local time.

Bellevue (12-3-4/3-0-1 NSAA) is making their second straight trip to the National Tournament's Final Site after topping #6 USAO, 1-0, in the Opening Round. The Bruins qualified for the National Tournament by claiming the North Star's automatic bid with a grueling 2-1 victory over host Jamestown in the NSAA Tournament Final. The Bruins are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll and are unbeaten (2-0-3) against ranked opposition this season. Bellevue has won four-straight matches, conceding just one goal in that span.

Lindenwood-Belleville (15-7-0/7-4-0 American Midwest) defeated #9 Northwestern Ohio in the Opening Round, 2-1. The Lynx qualified for the National Tournament via a 2-1 victory over Park University in the American Midwest Conference Championship. Lindenwood-Belleville, like the Bruins, is receiving in the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches Poll and is on a six-match win streak.

The Series:

Tuesday's game will be the first-ever between the two sides. Bellevue and Lindenwood-Bellevue have never met in men's soccer.

Fun Fact:

Tuesday's game between the Bruins and Lynx is an interesting pairing. Bellevue has the fewest wins (12) of any team at the final site while Lindenwood-Belleville has the most losses (7) of any team at the final site.

Bellevue-USAO Opening Round Recap:

Jonas Starkus scored the game-winning goal, as a substitute, off a feed from Tobias Maertzke in the 78^th minute and Ben Martin stopped all three shots he faced in goal for a 1-0 Bellevue win.

For the full recap: http://bubruins.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/releases/20151121xp30zf

NSAA Final Recap:

Bellevue got a first half goal from Rob Smith to take a 1-0 lead and Smith drew a penalty kick in the 88^th minute to set up Tobias Maertzke's game-winner as the Bruins defeated Jamestown, 2-1.

For the full recap: http://bubruins.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/releases/20151108s81uzl

Lindenwood-Bellevue vs. Northwestern Ohio Opening Round Recap:

A first half goal from Alberto Barroso gave the Lynx an early lead and then Oriol Morego netted the game winner with under ten minutes remaining to send the Lynx to a 2-1 victory over Northwestern Ohio and onto the round of 16 in Delray Beach, Florida.

For the full recap: http://lindenwoodlynx.com/news/2015/11/21/MSOC_1121154413.aspx

American Midwest Final Recap:

Guillermo Chinchilla and Sebastian Reyes scored for the Lynx to complete a 2-1 comeback win against Park University and win the AMC title.

For the full recap: http://lindenwoodlynx.com/news/2015/11/13/MSOC_1113154550.aspx

Bellevue Game Notes:

• Bellevue is unbeaten (2-0-3) against opponents that are either nationally ranked or receiving votes
• In five matches against ranked opposition, Bellevue has scored five goals and conceded three
• Bellevue is making their third straight National Tournament appearance and fifth overall ('08, '09, '13, '14, '15)
• Bellevue is making their second straight National Tournament Final Site appearance and third overall ('09, '14, '15)
• Bellevue is 6-2-4 in matches decided by fewer than two goals
• Bellevue's nine clean sheets are the second-highest single-season total in program history
• Bellevue is 3-2-0 all-time in NAIA Opening Round matches
• Bellevue is 3-4-0 all-time in the NAIA National Tournament
• Bellevue allowed just two goals in six conference matches - including post-season - on the season
• Bellevue posted their 19^th winning seasons in 21 years since the program began in 1995
• Bellevue's roster boasts players from six countries (Colombia, England, Germany, Scotland, Senegal, United States)
• With Bellevue's NSAA Championship Game victory, head coach Matt Briggs now has 100 career coaching victories to rank first in program history
• Bellevue ranks 20^th nationally in Clean Sheets (9)
• Tobias Maertzke ranks 15^th nationally in Game-Winning Goals (5)
• Ben Martin ranks 32^nd nationally in Goals Against Average (0.96)

Lindenwood-Belleville Game Notes:

• Lindenwood-Belleville is 3-5-0 against teams either ranked of receiving votes nationally
• Lindenwood-Belleville is 10-7-0 in games decided by fewer than two goals
• Lindenwood-Belleville is making their second straight appearance in the NAIA National Tournament
• Lindenwood-Belleville is 1-1-0 all-time in the NAIA National Tournament
• USAO's roster boasts players from 10 countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, United States)
• Leonardo Ferri ranks 15^th nationally in Game-Winning Goals (5)
• Nicolas Nicolaci ranks 37^th nationally in Goals Against Average (1.01)
• Oriol Morego ranks 38^th nationally in Game-Winning Goals (4)

Players to Watch:

Bellevue –

• Sr. MF Tobias Maertzke (9 G, 5 A, 23 P)
• Sr. D Alan Carr (2 G, 1 A, 5 P, NSAA Defensive Player of the Year)
• Sr. D Jamie Henderson (3 G, 3 A, 9 P)
• Jr. GK Ben Martin (12-3-4, 0.96 GAA, .782 Save Pct., 7 Shutouts)
• Jr. D Lee Woolmore (0 G, 2 A, 2 P)
• So. MF Rob Smith (6 G, 7 A, 19 P)
• So. MF Daniel Coupland (4 G, 1 A, 9 P)

Lindenwood-Belleville –

• Jr. F Leonardo Ferri (11 G, 5 A, 27 P)
• Jr. D Sebastian Reyes (3 G, 0 A, 6 P)
• Jr. D Fernando Carcamo (1 G, 1 A, 3 P)
• So. GK Nicolas Nicolaci (15-5-0, 1.01 GAA, .708 Save Pct., 8 Shutouts)
• So. MF Guillermo Chinchilla (4 G, 5 A, 13 P)
• So. F Oriol Morego (6 G, 1 A, 13 P)

What's next?:

The winner of this match advances to face the winner of Baker vs. Columbia in a quarterfinal match. That will take place tomorrow at Seacrest Soccer Complex in Delray Beach, Fla. at 6:30 p.m. local time.

Bellevue's Opening Round History:

• Nov. 22, 2008 | at Bethel (Tenn.), L, 0-3
• Nov. 21, 2009 | at Bethel (Ind.), W, 2-0
• Nov. 23, 2013 | at Grand View, L, 3-4
• Nov. 22, 2014 | at Hastings, W, 2-0
• Nov. 21, 2015 | at USAO, W, 1-0

Bellevue's Final Site History:

• Nov. 30, 2009 | vs. Lindsey Wilson, L, 0-2
• Dec. 01, 2014 | vs. Vanguard, L, 1-2 (2ot)
• Dec. 01, 2015 | vs. Lindenwood-Belleville, L, 1-2 (ot)