Bruins down Viterbo, qualify for Nationals on Nolte’s golazo

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Britney Nolte scored the goal of the year for the Bellevue University women's soccer team as the Bruins defeated Viterbo University 1-0 on Friday afternoon in the Continental Athletic Conference semifinals.

With the victory, Bellevue advances to tomorrow's championship game and, more importantly, earns an automatic bid to the 2021 NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament.

Records:

Bellevue: 8-9-0
Viterbo: 10-5-0

Bruins 1, Viterbo 0

The start and end to the first half saw relatively little action compared with a large flurry in the middle 10 minutes.

Viterbo had the better of the attack through the first 20 minutes but the script flipped midway through the period as Bellevue pressed forward.

The V-Hawks had a couple quality efforts within a short span of each other around the 20-minute mark. Sidney King unleashed a line drive shot from 30 yards that Sabrina Staufenbiel corralled and Lauren Wedig hit a volley that Staufenbiel made a diving, two-handed save on.

Bruna Bielski set up Bellevue's first scoring chance in the 27^th minute. She carried the ball down the sideline in front of the Bruin bench and sent a cross to Britney Nolte in the box. Nolte possessed the cross and helped set up Angela Miranda but Miranda's shot went just wide of the top, right corner.

A minute or so later King had another look from a set piece in the 28^th minute following a BU foul a yard outside the 18, but her shot rifled over the crossbar.

Bellevue's best attempt on goal came in the 30^th minute with Bielski feeding Alba Petit behind the defense but Petit, unable to generate much power on the shot as her momentum carried her body away from the ball, had her effort saved.

Early in the second half, BU had two great chances. Bielski's first shot was saved by a diving Bergen Beversdorf before she collected her own rebound and ripped a high-velocity shot from inside the box clanged off the crossbar.

The Bruins stayed on the accelerator out of the halftime break, pressing forward at every chance and putting additional pressure on the V-Hawk defense. In the 64^th minute the continued pressure nearly paid off with Maddy Vasquez gaining possession in the middle of the box but her shot was deflected, from behind, for a corner.

Bellevue's persistence was rewarded as the Bruins broke through in the 75^th minute, directly after a Viterbo yellow card, with a world class strike from Nolte from over 25 yards out. Amber O'Reilly settled Courtney Wallingford's free kick from inside the Bruin half, and slipped a pass back to Nolte. From the corner of the box, Nolte uncorked a high shot that Beversdorf could not reach for a 1-0 BU lead.

Viterbo saw little of the ball in attack the remainder of the way and Bielski nearly iced the victory; however, her 88^th minute attempt from the edge of the 18-yard box was saved by Beversdorf.

Just seconds later Bielski had a shot off a free kick from 22 yards that was again saved but went out for a corner kick.

Coach Tom White:

"The ladies were fantastic today and deserved the win against a great Viterbo side. The effort and work rate paid off today. We'll enjoy the win but it's time to recover quickly for the championship game tomorrow."

Up Next:

Bellevue has secured a bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round and advances to tomorrow's championship match against Georgia Gwinnett, a 6-0 winner over Iowa Wesleyan earlier in the day, with kick-off set for 3 pm. Viterbo sees their season come to a close.

Notes:

• The Bruins have qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the sixth time in program history (2010, '11, '12, '13, '14).
• Bellevue is 8-6-0 all-time in conference championship matches.
• Playing in their fifth-consecutive CAC (formerly A.I.I.) Tournament, Bellevue advances to the final for the first time.
• BU improves to 5-5-1 all-time against Viterbo and 1-2-1 in post-season play.