Men’s Soccer falls at Graceland

LAMONI, Iowa -- Freshman Jonus Starkus and junior David Goolsby both scored goals but it wasn't enough as the Bellevue University men's soccer team fell Graceland University, 4-2, on Tuesday evening in non-conference action.

Starkus put the Bruins on the board first with a strike in the 32^nd minute off a pass from junior JT Cronin. Graceland wasted no time getting back on terms with a same-minute goal from Sergi Trullas on a pass from Julian Mathews.

The score remained the same until Cory Arnold put Graceland up 2-1 in the 42^nd minute as Bryan Wines collected the assist on that tally. Graceland took that lead into intermission despite being out-shot 6-5 in the first 45 minutes.

That combination worked a second time as Arnold notched an insurance tally in the 75^th minute to give the home-standing Yellow Jackets a 3-1 advantage over the away side. The goal was once again assisted by Wines.

The Bruins made things interesting late. Goolsby scored an unassisted goal in the 83^rd minute to pull BU within one at 3-2 with 7:47 showing on the clock. Just a short time later the Yellow Jackets removed all double with a goal by Cody Blentlinger in the 84^th minute to restore Graceland's two-goal advantage. Cameron Barksdale had the assist.

The four goals scored by Graceland are the most that Bellevue has allowed since allowing four in a loss to Grand View in the NAIA Opening Round on Nov. 23, 2013, snapping a run of 34 games allowing two goals or fewer.

After being out-shot in the first half Graceland responded to own a 13-8 edge in shots for the match. They only put five on goal but four of those strikes found the back of the net.

The 20^th-ranked Bruins (8-3-4) return to play on Saturday, Oct. 31 when they travel to Forest City, Iowa for their regular season finale against Waldorf College at 1 p.m.