Bruins rout Central Christian in MCAC-opener, 11-0

McPHERSON, Kan. - Three different players scored hat tricks to lead the Bellevue University women's soccer team to a 11-0 victory over host Central Christian College in the MCAC-opener for both teams on Wednesday afternoon. Senior Mercy Darkoah (Sheffield, England) scored her second hat trick of the season for the Bruins while junior Betsy Fischenich (Omaha, Neb.) and senior Yaritza Estrada (Omaha, Neb.) each scored their first hat tricks.

The win is the fourth in a row for Bellevue (9-1-0, 1-0-0 MCAC), who is receiving votes in the Coaches' poll for the second consecutive week, while Central Christian (1-7-1, 0-1-0 MCAC) has now dropped four in a row and are winless in their last six (0-5-1).

Just shy of the midway mark of the first half, Darkoah got in on the scoring action. Darkoah struck a shot from the edge of the 6-yard box which found the back of the net for her team-leading ninth goal of the season. Darkoah would add her second goal of the match in the 38^th minute. The goal, scored from about 10 yards out, was assisted by junior Betsy Fischenich (Omaha, Neb.).

Darkoah complete her hat trick in the 54^th minute with a shot from just inside of 20 yards on a pass from Estrada. For Darkoah, it was her second hat trick of the season. Her 11^th goal of the season moved her into a tie for 10^th place nationally in that category. It was the third time in the last four games that Darkoah has scored multiple goals in a game and the fourth multi-goal game of the season for the central attacking midfielder.

Bellevue struck first in the 11^th minute when senior Yaritza Estrada (Omaha, Neb.) knocked in her third goal of the season on a blast from about 20 yards out as junior back Kate Petersen (Springfield, Neb.) was credited with her first assist of the season on the play.

Bellevue struck again before the half when Fischenich got on the scorecard herself. Fischenich scored from 20 yards out – a spot almost exactly where Estrada scored from – off of a pass from freshman Margie Garcia (Omaha, Neb.). The goal was Fischenich's ninth of the season and moved her into a tie for 17^th in the country in goals scored.

The Bruins wasted no time extending their advantage in the second half. Estrada scored her second goal of the game in the 49^th minute, this time from about 22 yards out. Fischenich connected from 25 yards out in the 51^st minute off of a pass from sophomore Lauren Clark (Portsmouth, England) to extend the BU advantage to 6-0.

Both Fischenich and Estrada completed their hat tricks within three minutes of each other as Fischenich scored in the 60^th minute and Estrada found the back of the net for the third time in the 62^nd minute.

Sophomore Michelle Dolder (Cali, Colombia) added a goal in the 67^th minute, her third of the season, from the edge of the 6-yard box. After registering an assist earlier in the contest, Clark scored a goal of her own in the 81^st minute to provide the final margin.

Freshman Laurence Rodier (Quebec, Canada), making her second consecutive start for injured freshman starter Bailey Petzoldt (Hastings, Neb.), only needed to make one save to improve her record to 3-0-0 in goal and collect her first collegiate shutout. Bellevue out-shot the Tigers by a 14-0 margin in the first half and 32-2 for the game.

The shutout marked the sixth time that Central Christian – who has now scored just four goals in nine games – has been blanked this season.

The Bruins have now won five straight in the series, which dates back to 2002, and are 6-0-1 all-time against Central Christian. Bellevue's 9-1 start is their best since opening the 2006 season 12-1 on their way to a 16-4-1 final record and an appearance in the Region IV Tournament. The 10 goals are the most the Bruins have scored since Sept. 19, 2011 when they defeated Mills by a final count of 17-0.

Bellevue will return to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 8 when they host the College of Saint Mary at 7:00 p.m. at Tranquility Park in Omaha, Neb.