Capras punctuate furious comeback win for Bruins

OSKALOOSA, Iowa -- Bellevue scored twice in the final 8:33 of regulation to a force overtime where Alvaro Capra scored the winner just 3:18 into the extra period to life the Bruins to a 3-2 win over William Penn University on Wednesday evening at Drost Field.

Records:

#8 Bellevue: 3-0-1
William Penn: 2-1-0

Bellevue 3, William Penn 2

William Penn opened the scoring in the 20^th minute. Kenedy Deviska dribbled into the Bruin 18 and sent a cross along the top of the six-yard box to the back post that Joseph Kitengie tapped into the open goal for the 1-0 advantage.

Less than two minutes later, Bellevue found themselves a man-up as Sagar Bhattarai was sent off with a direct red card.

Bellevue regrouped well after conceding and had the majority of the ball for the remainder of the half but were just unable to string together final passes to generate quality scoring opportunities and trailed 1-0 at the half.

BU had a golden chance to equalize in the 43^rd minute when Antonio Capra settled a ball in the box but hit bicycle kick dinged off the crossbar.

The Bruins outshot the Statesmen 7-4 in the opening half, 4-2 on goal, and collected both corner kicks.

Kitengie gave the home side a 2-0 lead, using the underside off the crossbar to score in the 67^th minute off a pass from Lukas Koch.

The WPU defense did well to limit the quality of BU's chances until the final 10 minutes with Miguel Barbosa making 10 on the shots the Bruins were able to get off during this time.

Bellevue got back in the game, scoring off a corner in the 82^nd minute. Alvaro Capra bicycle passed a corner on to Antonio Capra who volleyed the ball past the keeper to make it a 2-1 game.

Just 3:35 later, Alvaro Capra pulled Bellevue level as he headed the cross Anthony Cox sent into a crowd in the box; Capra out-leaped the masses to tie the game with under five minutes to play.

Cox nearly ended overtime just two minutes in, but Barbosa made a leaping stop on a free kick attempt that looked destined for the far corner.

Bellevue regrouped after the save and ended the game just seconds later when Toby Millward sent a ball into the box that Sissoko headed at Barbosa who made the initial stop but watched helplessly as Alvaro Capra slammed home the rebound for the 3-2 winner.

Bellevue out-shot the Statesmen 26-10 on the night (13-3 on goal) and racked up an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Coach Mark Heath-Preston:

"Unbelievable last 15 minutes. We started off sloppy and gave them some chances. Credit to William Penn; they made it really difficult for us. Alvaro with two goals and an assist was the Man of the Match, but also credit to some of the older heads in Millward and Ricky Reyes for driving us forward towards the end."

Man of the Match:

Alvaro Capra - 2 goals (tying and game-winning) and an assist

Up Next:

Bellevue welcomes Iowa Wesleyan University (0-3-0) to Papillion Landing on Saturday, Sept. 4 for a 7 p.m. kick-off.

Notes:

• For Bellevue, it's their first win from 2 goals down since rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat John Brown 3-2 (also in overtime) on Sept. 9, 2016.
• It's the first time coming back from a 2-goal deficit in a true road game since bouncing back to defeat Waldorf 4-3 (after trailing 3-1) on Nov. 2, 2013.