Maertzke’s hat trick rallies BU past Northwestern

ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- Senior Tobias Maertzke scored three straight goals to close out the first half and lift the Bellevue University men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over host Northwestern College on Wednesday evening.

Northwestern struck first on a 15^th minute strike by Landon Sibole. Following a BU foul, Sibole took a free kick which took a deflection of the Bellevue wall and past junior keeper Ben Martin for a 1-0 lead.

Maertzke put Bellevue back on terms in the 20^th minute with his first of three goals. He added a second goal in the 40^th minute and completed the hat trick with a 44^th minute strike off a feed from sophomore Rob Smith. Following his performance today, Maertzke now has a team-leading four goals and nine points on the year. Smith's assist moves him into a tie with senior Jamie Henderson for second place on the team with five points.

Northwestern got a goal back in the 87^th minute on a goal from Leo Sanchez-Perry. Tyler Limmer and Breno Fabbri both registered assists on the goal to pull the Red Raiders within one at 3-2.

Bellevue out-shot Northwestern 17-12 (9-9 on goal) in the match and gained a massive 9-1 advantage in corner kicks. Northwestern was called for seven fouls while Bellevue was whistled for 11.

Martin, who has started all seven matches in net for the Bruins on the season, made seven saves in the victory.

The match was the first meeting between the two sides since a 1-0 Bellevue victory in 2004 in Orange City. The Bruins have won three of the four meetings all-time with the lone Red Raider win coming in Omaha in 2003.

The 14^th-ranked Bruins (5-1-1) return to the pitch on Saturday with a 1 p.m. match at 15^th-ranked Ashford University.