Bruins return to CAC final for fourth-straight season

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Antonio Capra scored a sliding goal to lift the top-seeded and No. 8-ranked Bellevue University men's soccer team past previously unbeaten and fourth-seeded Viterbo University 1-0 on Friday evening in the Continental Athletic Conference semifinals.

Records:

#8 Bellevue: 14-2-2
Viterbo: 16-1-1

Bruins 1, Viterbo 0

Bellevue dominated possession and the stat sheet in the opening half with all six shots and all three shots on goals belonging to the Bruins.

The Bruins looked to have broken through in the 26^th minute off an Andy Wilkinson throw-in but the BU goal was disallowed. After a consultation with his linesman, the referee ruled the goal had gone in off the hand of a Bellevue attacker.

The attack continued to skew heavily towards Bellevue, but the Bruins were able to generate few quality chances.

One of their best looks came on a free kick from Anthony Cox that went through the box untouched before Ernesto Ascenzo made a diving stop to keep the ball out of goal.

Antonio Capra finally got the Bruins their goal in the 40^th minute. Gabriel Gaiotto carried possession down the near sideline before whipping in a low cross that Capra slid onto and toe-poked home for a 1-0 Bellevue lead.

Bellevue continued to push ahead for the first 20-25 minutes of the second half in search of a second goal but to no avail.

Viterbo committed more to the attack about halfway through the period and were finally rewarded with their first shot in the 68^th minute.

AJ Jarvis made his lone save in the 78^th minute to turn away a Parker Vajda attempt and the V-Hawks managed just two shots the rest of the way, one blocked and the other wide.

Bellevue out-shot Viterbo 10-4 and 4-1 on target despite the V-Hawks winning nine corners to the Bruins' three.

Coach Mark Heath-Preston:

"I'm really happy for the boys and (assistant coaches) Scott Robertson and Graeme Eaglesham with the win. With the chances we had, it could have been a few more."

Man of the Match:

Andy Wilkinson

Up Next:

Bellevue faces the winner of tonight's Georgia Gwinnett-Florida National match-up in tomorrow's championship game. Kick-off for that one is slated for 6 p.m. Viterbo will await word from the NAIA as to whether they earn one of 12 at-large bids to the NAIA National Tournament.

Notes:

• Bellevue is making their fourth-straight appearance in the CAC (formerly A.I.I.) Championship Game. The Bruins defeated Georgia Gwinnet last season after coming up short to the Grizzlies in each of the previous two campaigns.
• BU is 8-10-3 all-time in conference championship matches. However, they are 8-4-2 in finals since 2005, going 2-0 in penalty shootouts.
• The Bruins remain undefeated all-time against Viterbo, improving to 10-0-0 and 4-0-0 in post-season match-ups.