Bruins fall to GGC in PKs in CAC Championship

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga -- Facing off against a familiar foe in the Continental Athletic Conference Championship Game the Bellevue University women's soccer team played top-seed and No. 22-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College to a 1-1 draw before falling 5-4 on penalty kicks.

Bellevue ends their season with a record of 9-5-3 after meeting Georgia Gwinnett in the CAC Championship for the fourth-straight season. The Grizzlies secure the CAC's automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament and are now 12-6-2 on the year.

Shots were few, and far between, in the first half as the teams combined for just six shots with just a pair from GGC finding their way on target.

Alessia Ricciardi stopped both efforts, one from Aurora Miglio in the 11^th minute and another from Kendra Davis in the 29^th to keep the game scoreless going into halftime as BU survived defending Georgia Gwinnett who had the wind at their back in the half.

With the wind behind them in the second half, it was Bellevue that opened the scoring in the 51^st minute. Mia Hurt uncorked a howler from 35 yards that goalkeeper Ayano Kurosawa got a hand to before deflecting off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net. Maju Serrano set up the goal, delivering a pass to hurt who turned and fired to give the Bruins the lead.

Natalie Maguire equalized from the Grizzlies in the 58^th minute. She won race for the ball beating a BU slide tackle with a toe poke to find herself one-on-one with Ricciardi. She deked Ricciardi and delivered a calm shot along the ground into the back of the empty net.

The Grizzlies nearly caught BU by surprise in the 61^st minute off a free kick. A quick restart saw Ola Oralesi take a pass in stride into the box but her shot was saved by a diving Ricciardi.

Georgia Gwinnett had another opportunity to go ahead in the 67^th minute. A cross was sent to the center of box for Cecile Povlsen but she blasted her volley over the crossbar.

A Bellevue foul gave GGC a free kick off the edge of the box in the 80^th minute. The initial shot by Riko Yasuzawa was turned away but BU was ruled to have used a hand in blocking it. The second effort from Yasuzawa sailed over the crossbar and the game remained tied.

Miglio found a chance in the 86^th minute, following up her own rebound to send a shot on frame but Ricciardi was up to the task and keep the game tied with a save.

Bellevue got a steal in the final minute in the Grizzly half with an opportunity for a late charge. Emma Madej won a corner for BU with about 10 seconds remaining but there were no balls close to the corner and BU was unable to send a cross in before time expired on regulation.

Miglio had the first shot of overtime for GGC, but her 92^nd minute effort was right at the chest of Ricciardi who corralled it easily.

Baylee Tex had a shot in the 95^th minute, BU's first of overtime, but it sailed wide right.

In the waning seconds of the first overtime period, Maguire took a pass from Miglio between a pair of defenders at the edge of the box but her ground level shot slipped wide of goal to end the period.

In the second overtime period, each team managed just one shot with neither really troubling the opposing keeper.

Bellevue won a free kick in the 109^th minute at the far sideline deep in GGC territory. Hurt sent a cross to the penalty spot that was cleared away by a Grizzly defender to preserve the deadlock.

Penalty Shootout:

Hurt and Serrano were each named to the CAC All-Tournament Team for their performances this week.