Own goal from Bielski corner gives Bruins rebound win over Tabor

HILLSBORO, Kan. -- Bruna Cola Bielski tapped home the game's lone goal to lift the Bellevue University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Tabor College on Tuesday evening at Joel H. Wiens Stadium.

Records:

Bellevue: 3-1-0
Tabor: 1-2-0

Recap: BU 1, Tabor 0

Bellevue settled into an early rhythm with a number of short, quick passes as they prodded for weak points amongst the Tabor defense. As BU worked deeper into the Tabor end they began to see chances at goal.

The Bruins got on the board off a corner kick in the 18^th minute. Emma Phillipson sent a curling ball into the box that Bruna Cola Bielski toe-poked past the Bluejay keeper and across the goal line to give BU the 1-0 lead. The goal was her team-leading third of the year.

BU nearly added a second strike on two occasions. In the 24^th minute Morgan McIlnay sent a header over the leaping goalkeeper but the ball hit off the crossbar. Then, in the 36^th minute Sinai Bernal sent a volley over the crossbar from inside of 10 yards.

Bellevue won a free kick in the final minute of the first half but Lays Freitas' attempt went just wide, rippling the outside of the net ahead of the halftime horn.

Despite being unable to add to their lead, the Bruins remained on the front foot for the remainder of the half as they entered the break a goal up and with all six shots in the game.

To open the second half, Bellevue picked up right where they left off. Less than two minutes out of the break BU put two shots on goal, including Daisy Ochoa-Rojas who had a great look at goal and sent a rocket into the arms of the keeper, and another attempt by Maddy Vasquez clang off the crossbar.

Tabor's best chance to equalize came in the 66^th minute but Sydney Takash saw her shot saved by Sabrina Staufenbiel.

The Bluejays won a free kick just outside the box in the 79^th minute but Rachel Bennett's attempt at goal sailed wide of the far post and BU retained their 1-0 lead.

Bellevue had a chance to ice the game in the 84^th with a two-on-one counter attack situation. Britney Nolte found herself in on goal but shot the ball wide.

Tabor saw their final chances come in the final minute with a free kick from 35 yards followed by a corner but Staufenbiel came off her line to punch away the corner and Bellevue was off on the counter to run out the clock and secure the win.

The Bellevue back four were once again outstanding, limiting Tabor to just two shots on goal to help Staufenbiel (2 saves) post her third shutout of the year.

Bellevue out-shot the host side 11-3 and claimed a 5-2 edge in shots on goal.

Tiffany Wainscott made four saves in the loss for Tabor.

Player of the Game:

Emah Maahs -- Maahs did great defensively and helped start a number of attacks with her quality on the ball.

Coach Tom White:

"We had a few girls come off the bench who impacted the game, in particular Britney Nolte who did great. It's good to bounce back from Saturday with a win. We need to learn to kill games off sooner and make it easier for ourselves. We asked a lot of the girls to play four games in a short amount of time so we are happy with their attitude and effort."

Up Next:

Bellevue hosts Central Christian College on Monday, Sept. 28 for a 5 p.m. kick-off at Papillion Landing.

Notes:

• Bellevue remains unbeaten all-time against Tabor, improving to 2-0-1, with all three meetings coming since 2017.
• The Bruins have still not conceded a goal from the run of play since Oct. 23, 2019, a span of six games covering 564:08 minutes of action.