USAO rallies past BU, 3-2

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Three unanswered Drover goals saw the No. 9-ranked Bellevue University men's soccer team lose an early lead in a 3-2 loss to the University of Science & Arts on Tuesday afternoon at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.

With the victory, USAO improves to 4-1-3 on the season while the loss halts BU's four-game win streak, dropping the Bruins to 6-2-1 on the year.

Bellevue wasted no time opening the scoring in the game's third minute. Juan Lagares played Adam Sherwood in behind the USAO defense and Sherwood found himself one-on-one with Drover keeper Angel Diaz who broke up the initial charge. The loose ball found itself at the foot of Jeremiah Hteh who tapped a shot into the wide open net for his fourth goal of the season.

The Bruins continued looking dangerous in the early going as in the seventh minute Jeronimo Zelaya Diaz sent a dangerous cross to the back post but just out of reach for Sherwood to attempt to get a head on the ball.

After a couple corners and a failure by the BU defense to clear pressure, USAO equalized in the 16^th minute. Igor Kothaj sent in a cross from the corner of the 18 and Matija Malenovic flicked a header inside the back post to pull the Drovers level with his seventh goal of the season.

Shots became more scarce as the half played out though possession remained largely controlled by the Bruins.

 The next real scoring change belonged to Science & Arts in the 30^th minute when Gustav Rosenqvist ripped a 20-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar. However, it bounded down off keeper Kaden Simpson and eventually out of harm's way.

Science & Arts looked dangerous on the counterattack in the 41^st minute. Thato Lekgetho broke free around midfield, out-pacing multiple BU defenders and worked his way into the box where he made a cut back but had his shot blocked. A follow-up from Archie Floate was deflected by another Bruin defender as they cleared the danger.

At halftime the score remained 1-1 with shots being even at five apiece, though Bellevue nudged ahead with three shots on goal to USAO's one. The Drovers won five corners to the Bruins' three.

Bellevue opened the second half with a flurry of activity in front of the USAO goal in the 47^th minute. Jeronimo Zelaya Diaz had the best look on frame, directing a shot back across goal with the keeper out of position but a Drover defender rose up and used his body to keep the game tied.

Science & Arts was awarded a penalty in the 51^st minute following a Bellevue handball. Malenovic converted the spot kick for his second goal of the day and eighth of the season.

The Drovers added another goal in the 72^nd minute. Jamal Brooks carried possession to the endline before playing a pass to Archie Floate in the center of the box. Floate delivered a well-timed shot low to the opposite post for a 3-1 advantage.

The Bruins clawed a goal back in the 88^th minute off a corner when Samuel Puth rose up to meet Yoskar Galvan-Mercado's cross and tipped it into the goal to pull the Bruins within one with 2:54 to play.

Diaz finished with four saves in goal for USAO while Simpson made one in the loss for the Bruins.

BU out-shot USAO 18-11 in the match, including a 7-4 advantage on goal while corners finished even at six apiece.

Bellevue welcomes No. 24 Oklahoma City University to town on Saturday for a scheduled 3 p.m. kick-off from the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.