Offensive outburst leads Bruins past NWC

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Three different Bruins scored goals on Saturday evening as the (RV) Bellevue University men's soccer team defeated Northwestern College 3-0 at Chieftain Stadium on the campus of Bellevue East High School.

Records:

(RV) Bellevue: 4-5-0
Northwestern: 3-4-0

Recap: (RV) Bellevue 3, Northwestern 0

Bellevue turned in one of their best all-around performances of the season on Saturday night, dominating play to the tune of a 15-6 advantage in shots and picking up a 3-0 win over visiting Northwestern.

The Bruins saw the first scoring chance of the game come within the first 10 minutes as Morgan Penn sent in a dangerous cross that was just past the reach of Andy Janssen's header attempt.

After a couple near misses from Alex Cuenca in the 24^th minute and Ricky Reyes in the 27^th minute, BU finally broke through.

Federico Umani Ronchi whipped in a cross that Austyn Brinkley sent to the back of the net with a driving header for a 1-0 Bruin lead in the 27^th minute of play.

Umani Ronchi doubled the Bruin advantage in the 38^th minute with a howler nearly 40 yards from goal. Keeper James Warren got to the ball but was unable to stop the momentum of the shot from trickling into the goal for a 2-0 Bellevue lead.

The scoreline remained 2-0 in favor of the host side until the 56^th minute. Penn's initial attempt struck the post but Ricky Reyes picked up the rebound and played a ball to Janssen at the edge of the box who tucked it into the far corner to put the game out of reach.

AJ Jarvis totaled four saves in goal to record the clean sheet for the back line of Kortlan Franke, Andy Wilkinson, and Finlay Bloodworth.

Coach Mark Heath-Preston:

"We played really well as a group and scored three good goals. The fitness and understanding of each other is starting to click. Joel Roesler had his best game and linked up really well with Ramy Katit down the left-hand side. We play a good Concordia team Tuesday so we must be ready for them."

Player of the Match:

Federico Umani Ronchi -- Scored one goal and assisted another.

Up Next:

Bellevue hosts Concordia University on Tuesday at 7 p.m. from Tranquility Park in Omaha.

Notes:

• The three goals scored by the Bruins are the most in a game this season and the most since defeating Marymount California, 3-0, in last year's NAIA National Tournament Opening Round.
• Austyn Brinkley and Federico Umani Ronchi each scored their first collegiate goal in the win.
• It was the first game this season that was not decided by one goal.
• Bellevue's 2-0 halftime lead was the first time they've had a lead at the intermission this season.