Men's Soccer unveils 2016 Schedule
Bruins to play seven home fixtures between Bellevue Soccer Club and Bellevue West HS
2016 Bellevue Men's Soccer Schedule
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BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Chasing their fourth-straight NAIA National Tournament Appearance, the Bellevue University men's soccer team, under head coach Mark Heath-Preston, announced today their 18-match 2016 schedule.
Bellevue, which finished the 2015 campaign with a 12-4-4 overall mark, will face three opponents that qualified for last year's NAIA National Tournament. All 13 of Bellevue's NAIA non –conference opponent posted a winning record last season for a combined record of 151-69-19. A total of 12 of the Bruins' 2016 opponents reached the 10-win plateau a season ago.
Heath-Preston, who enters his first season at the helm of the BU program, leads a program which has won three-straight conference tournament championships and has claimed back-to-back regular-season conference titles.
The Bruins kick off the season at Doane on Friday, Aug. 19 in Crete, Neb. at 7:30 p.m. Three days later, on Monday, Aug. 22 BU plays host to Northwestern at 5 p.m. in their home-opener. After having just three home fixtures a year ago, the Bruins will host seven home matches in 2016 with six at Bellevue Soccer Club and one at Bellevue West High School.
Four of Bellevue's first six games come against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the final NAIA Coaches' Poll of 2015; at (RV) Mobile (Aug. 26), vs. (RV) Thomas (Aug. 28), at #18 Northwestern Ohio (Sept. 2), and vs. #5 Davenport (Sept. 4).
The Bruins host a pair of intriguing home match-ups against intra-state rivals #25 Hastings (Sept. 18) and (RV) Concordia (Oct. 5).
Other non-conference home dates include matches against Midland (Sept. 14 at Bellevue West HS) and against Morningside (Sept. 21).
Bellevue kicks of their NSAA regular-season title defense on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Viterbo in La Crosse, Wis. A week later they'll host a rematch of last season's NSAA Championship Game when Jamestown comes to Bellevue Soccer Club. The following week the Bruins will travel to Aberdeen, S.D. to play at Presentation before wrapping up the regular-season a week later when they host Waldorf.
The NSAA Tournament will take place the following weekend with the winner securing a spot in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round. Last year Bellevue topped Jamestown, 2-1, on a late winner from the penalty spot to reach the national post-season. BU struck for a second half goal to pick up a result at USAO and reach the final 16 for the second year in a row before bowing out with a spirited extra time defeat to Lindenwood-Belleville.
2016 Bellevue Men's Soccer Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Notes | Time |
| Friday, Aug. 19 | at Doane | Crete, Neb. | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Monday, Aug. 22 | NORTHWESTERN | Bellevue Soccer Club | Home-Opener | 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Aug. 26 | at Mobile | Orange Beach, Ala. | Mobile Classic | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, Aug. 28 | vs. Thomas | Orange Beach, Ala. | Mobile Classic | 11:00 a.m. |
| Friday, Sept. 2 | at Northwestern Ohio | Lima, Ohio | UNOH Classic | 1:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 4 | vs. Davenport | Lima, Ohio | UNOH Classic | 1:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, Sept. 8 | vs. John Brown | McPherson, Kan. | McPherson Classic | 5:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, Sept. 10 | at McPherson | McPherson, Kan. | McPherson Classic | 2:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Sept. 14 | MIDLAND | Bellevue West HS | 8:00 p.m. | |
| Sunday, Sept. 18 | HASTINGS | Bellevue Soccer Club | Senior Day |
3:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Sept. 21 | MORNINGSIDE | Bellevue Soccer Club | 4:00 p.m. | |
| Saturday, Sept. 24 | at Briar Cliff | Sioux City, Iowa | 4:00 p.m. | |
| Wednesday, Oct. 5 | CONCORDIA | Bellevue Soccer Club | 3:00 p.m. | |
| Saturday, Oct. 8 | at Viterbo * | La Crosse, Wis. | TBA | |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | JAMESTOWN * | Bellevue Soccer Club | 2:30 p.m. | |
| Saturday, Oct. 22 | at Presentation * | Bellevue Soccer Club | 2:00 p.m. | |
| Wednesday, Oct. 26 | at Grace | Omaha, Neb. | 6:00 p.m. | |
| Saturday, Oct. 29 | WALDORF * | Bellevue Soccer Club | 2:30 p.m. |
Schedule Notes:
- Only one non-conference game against a team with a sub-.500 record (Grace)
- Three opponents reached the NAIA National Tournament (Concordia, Davenport, Northwestern Ohio)
- Last year's record against 2016 opponents: 8-1-2
- Combined record of all opponents: 189-120-23
- Four opponents played in conference final (Concordia, Hastings, Jamestown, Northwestern Ohio).
- 12 Opponents won at least 10 games in 2015.
- Six opponents ranked or receiving votes in final 2015 NAIA Coaches' Poll.