Bruins fall to top-seeded GGC, 3-0, in CAC Final

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- A second minute penalty put the Bruins in an early hole and proved too much for the Bellevue University men's soccer team to overcome as BU fell to top-seeded and No. 12-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College 3-0 on Tuesday evening in the Continental Athletic Conference Championship.

With the victory Georgia Gwinnett improves to 12-2-3 and secures the CAC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament which begins on Thursday, Nov. 20 at campus sites across the country.

Bellevue's quest for a sixth-straight CAC Championship was denied with the Bruins falling to 10-8-2 on the season. They will leave their postseason fate in the hands of the selection committee. The Bruins sit 41^st in the latest RPI and 40 teams make the National Tournament field. The selection show will take place at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14 where at-large berths and host sites are announced.

Just 83 seconds into the game, Georgia Gwinnett won a penalty kick as Kaden Simpson came off his line to challenge a Grizzly attacker but too aggressively as he committed a foul to set up the spot kick. Alejandro Contrera stepped to the penalty spot a put home the opener for a 1-0 GGC lead.

Contrera had another look at goal just a couple minutes later though Simpson came up with a stop on his sixth minute effort.

The Bruins seemed largely unphased by the early deficit as they settled into the rhythm of the game, pushing forward and looking dangerous at times as Yoskar Galvan-Mercado had an early look from outside the 18 off a 12^th minute corner but his shot sailed over the bar.

Following a flurry of activity by Georgia Gwinnett in the offensive end, Bellevue countered by matriculating the ball down the field and winning a set piece after a GGC foul before pressing forward, earning a pair of corners back-to-back, but were unable to generate a shot.

Georgia Gwinnett threatened again in the 25^th minute. After winning a 50-50 ball, a cross was sent in to Contrera but Simpson made a sprawling save on a deflected shot and tipped the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

Simpson made another crucial save in the 37^th minute on a breakaway chance by Ousmane Fall. Fall got in behind the defense and found himself one-on-one with Simpson coming off his line but Simpson made a sliding stop to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

Bellevue looked for an equalizer late in the first half. Kyi Nicholson had a shot at the back post in the 41^st minute following a throw-in but Victor Darub made a save on the attempt from 10 yards from goal and Darub came up with another save moments later on a header from Jeronimo Zelaya Diaz.

The Bruins held the majority of possession in the first half despite allowing the early goal but trailed 1-0 at the intermission and were out-shot 8-5 overall and 5-2 on goal in the period.

Early on in the second half, Bellevue looked more dangerous going forward, including finding a threatening counterattack in the 58^th minute that resulted in Zelaya Diaz getting off a shot in space though Darub again came up with a save.

A Bellevue giveaway in the 66^th minute saw the Grizzlies seize full control of the game. Errin Leak intercepted a pass near midfield and unleashed a 50-plus yard attempt on goal that rainbowed over Simpson who was off his line having started play out of the back.

The Bruins continued to maintain the lion's share of possession down the stretch but, despite doing so, were unable to break through as the Grizzlies captured their first CAC Championship since 2019.

Djordje Djurasinovic put the game to bed in the 86^th minute with his late strike. He settled a header from Fall in the box, turned and beat Simpson to the far post for Georgia Gwinnett's third goal.

Georgia Gwinnett out-shot BU 12-8 on the night, including piling up an edge of 8-4 in shots on goal though BU won eight corners to five for the Grizzlies.

Simpson totaled five saves in goal for BU while Darub finished with four for GGC.

For their performance in the tournament, Cohen Rusin and Buster Honeywood earned CAC All-Tournament honors for BU.