BU claims A.I.I. crown with 2-0 win over Georgia Gwinnett

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Second half goals from Inaki Aldao and Alvaro Capra lifted the #15 Bellevue University soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Georgia Gwinnett College in the Championship Game of the Association of Independent Institutions' Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Bellevue improves to 14-4-2 on the year while the Grizzlies suffer their first loss and fall to 10-1-2 on the season.

Both teams have secured automatic entry to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round slated for Apr. 22-24 on campus sites across the nation. Those sites are expected to be revealed within the next few days.

Recap:

The third time was the charm for BU as the Bruins avenged losses in each of the last two A.I.I. finals at the hands of the Grizzlies.

The game followed a familiar script as the previous two meetings between Bellevue and GGC with Bellevue scoring first, but this time the Bruins back up their first goal with a quick second to seize control of the match.

Bellevue had the first best chance of the game when Oumar Sissoko's shot rattled down off the crossbar in the 59^th minute but somehow stayed clear of the line.

After playing a scoreless first half, Bellevue struck first when Toby Millward crossed a ball from just outside to the left edge of the 6-yard box that Inaki Aldao finished inside the far post for a 1-0 BU lead in the 62^nd minute.

Just over four minutes later, the Bruins added a second goal. Millward sent a free kick into the box that Alvaro Capra got a head to and found the back of the net for a 2-0 advantage.

Despite trailing by two goals, Georgia Gwinnett was only able to produce two shots the rest of the way, instead opting to take out their frustrations by undercutting Bellevue keeper AJ Jarvis three times, as he went up to take balls out of the air.

Jarvis made a pair of saves in goal for the Bruins while Matthew Wallace totaled four saves for the Grizzlies.

With three goals in the tournament, Aldao was named the A.I.I. Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Joining him on the All-Tournament Team were Jarvis, Millward, Zach Robbins, and Andy Wilkinson.

Co-Men of the Match:

Inaki Aldao and Toby Millward

Coach Mark Heath-Preston:

"We played really well and fully deserved the win. We are excited to move on and see how far we can take this. I'd like to thank my assistant coaches Scott Robertson, Graeme Eaglesham, and Jacob Pease as well as athletic trainer Mike Livergood for all their help!"

Up Next:

Bellevue will get a 12-day break before competing in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round beginning on Thursday, Apr. 22. The entire field and match-ups will to be announced via the NAIA Selection Show on Monday, Apr. 19 at noon.

Notes:

• Bellevue will make their seventh National Tournament appearance when they compete in the NAIA Opening Round (2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018).
• BU and Georgia Gwinnett have played in each of the last three A.I.I. Championship Games.
• The A.I.I./Independent Championship is the third in program history (2008, 2009).
• For Bellevue, it's their first time winning games on back-to-back days since doing so on Nov. 15-16, 2013 to win that year's MCAC Championship.
• With two more assists in Saturday's game Toby Millward now has 14 on the season, just two off the mark set by Jon Pagel in 2006 for the most in a single-season in program history.