Bruins rally for 2-1 victory over Doane

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Goals from Aileen Perez and Adi Kasel saw the Bellevue University women's soccer team rally past Doane University for a 2-1 victory on Wednesday evening at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.

BU remains unbeaten, improving to 3-0-2 while Doane falls to 2-3-1 on the year.

Adi Kasel had the first good look at goal for either side, taking a cross in the sixth minute and directing a header at goal but Doane's Virginia Johnson made the save to keep the Bruins off the board early.

Doane broke through in the 30^th minute, capitalizing off a BU turnover. Abril Cura tried to play a ball out of the back but Megan Townsend intercepted it in the box and settled it at her feet. With Cura out of positing, Townsend unleashed an arching shot back across the goal mouth that tuck inside the far post, rippling the back of the net for a 1-0 Doane lead.

The Tiger lead did not last long as Bellevue equalized 97 seconds later. Sam Mausbach navigated traffic on the near side of the 18 before playing a cross to the back post along the six. Her pass found the foot of Aileen Perez who ran onto the rolling ball and one-timed a low shot past Johnson to pull the Bruins level.

Despite a 9-4 advantage in shots for Bellevue, the game remained tied into halftime. Just two of the Bruins' first half shots found their way on target while three of Doane's four were on frame. BU doubled up the Tigers 2-1 on corners in the period.

The Bruins had almost exclusive rights to the scoring chances in the second half. The first good look came when Prescillia Casu looked to have perhaps scored. Her shot from a free kick was tipped by Johnson off the underside of the crossbar. The net looked to have rippled but the ball was deemed not to have gone over the goal line.

Bellevue had a great chance in the 80^th minute, winning a free kick from 20 yards. Katrina Avila ripped a low shot around the wall but Johnson tipped it away to keep the game tied at one apiece.

The Bruins out-shot Doane 19-6 on the evening, including 9-4 on goal. Johnson finished with seven saves in net for the Tigers while Cura totaled three stops for BU.

Less than 90 seconds later, the Bruins saw their fortunes change when Casu played Kasel in behind the Doane defense. Kasel took a couple dribbles towards the oncoming goalkeeper who went low, but Kasel beat her, sliding a shot inside the far post for a 2-1 BU lead.

Bellevue returns home on Saturday, Sept. 13 when they host Mount Marty University for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff from the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.