Silva’s hat trick paces BU past HLGU

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Renato Silva bagged BU's first hat trick of the season as the #12 Bellevue University men's soccer team out-classed Hannibal-LaGrange University 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at Bellevue Soccer Club.

Records:

#12 Bellevue: 10-0-2
Hannibal-LaGrange: 2-5-1

Recap:

Renato Silva scored goals in the fifth, 30^th, and 60^th minutes while Toby Millward (57') and Inaki Aldao (66') also found the back of the net in the Bruins' 5-1 rout of Hannibal-LaGrange.

Silva's first goal came when Kortlan Franke played a ball behind that defense that Silva tucked inside the near post. His second came after he forced a turnover in the penalty area and beat the keeper across his body. He completed the task after settling a cross from Yago Ramos and blasting a shot through keeper Rafael Todaro's hands.

In between his second and third goals, Silva assisted on a cracking strike from Millward. Silva worked a shot that was blocked before Millward picked up the rebound an unleashed a missile from 25 yards out to the corner of the net.

Aldao capped the Bruin scoring. Travis Hurd dribbled up the field and chipped in Aldao behind the defense who then one-timed a shot to the far post.

The Trojans ended Bellevue's shutout streak at 459:14 when Santiago Diaz one-timed home a goal to the far side in the 72^nd minute off a pass from Juan Pablo Suazo Cerpa.

AJ Jarvis recorded one save as the Trojans managed to put just two of their eight shots on target.

Bellevue landed 10 of their 17 attempts on frame with half of those finding their way past HLGU keepers. The Bruins totaled all five of the game's corner kicks.

Man of the Match:

Renato Silva – Scored a hat trick, including the game-winning goal, and added an assist on Toby Millward's 57^th minute strike.

Coach Mark Heath-Preston:

"The most pleasing thing was that we played some good football today and improved as a team. Inaki Aldao got some more minutes and is looking closer to full fitness as he added his ninth goal of the season and Toby Millward added another brilliant strike. We have the last game of this busy spell on Wednesday against Midland which we know will be a big test."

Up Next:

Bellevue wraps up their four-game homestand on Wednesday, Sept. 26 when they host Midland University at 7:30 p.m. at Faiman Field on the campus of Bellevue West High School.

Notes:

• Bellevue's 17-match unbeaten run (14-0-3) is the longest in program history.
• With another five-goal performance BU now has four on the season. That is their most since the 2009 squad also did so four times. The 1998 team holds the record with five games of at least five goals.