NSAA Men’s Soccer Tournament Semifinal Preview:

JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- The Bellevue University men's soccer team is in Jamestown, N.D. for their first-ever North Star Athletic Association Tournament. The Bruins, the top seed in the tournament, will take on 4^th-seeded Viterbo in a semifinal match on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. on the campus of Jamestown High School.

Bellevue (9-3-4/3-0-1 NSAA) clinched their second straight conference regular season championship last weekend with a 1-0 win at Waldorf. The Bruins are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll and are unbeaten against ranked opposition this season.

Viterbo (7-10-2/1-3-0 NSAA) defeated Presentation, 5-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw, in the first round match to advance to the semifinal.

The Series:

Bellevue and Viterbo have met just once all-time, a 3-1 Bruin victory on Oct. 3 at Bellevue Soccer Club.

Last Meeting:

Jonus Starkus scored his first career goal on his way to a hat trick as Bellevue defeated Viterbo 3-1 on Oct. 10. The Bruins dominated the match, out-shooting Viterbo 21-3 (12-1 on goal) on Senior Day.

For the full recap: http://bubruins.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/releases/20151003t62hmu

Bellevue Game Notes:

• Bellevue is unbeaten (1-0-3) against opponents that are either nationally ranked or receiving votes
• Bellevue has won two straight conference tournament championships (2013 and 2014 MCAC)
• Bellevue has allowed just one goal in four conference matches on the season (that goal came in a 3-1 victory against Viterbo on Oct. 3)
• Tobias Maertzke ranks 24^th nationally in Game-Winning Goals (4)
• Ben Martin ranks 48^th nationally in Goals Against Average (1.07)
• Tobias Maertzke ranks sixth in the North Star in both goals (8) and points (20)
• Rob Smith is in a three-way tie for the North Star lead in assists (6)
• Ben Martin leads the North Star in both Goals Against Average (1.07) and Save Percentage (.763)

Viterbo Game Notes:

• Viterbo is on a three-match unbeaten streak which includes a pair of wins in regular season matches and their first round draw against Presentation
• Quinten Ludwig ranks 19^th nationally in Total Saves (95)
• Quinten Ludwig ranks 38^th nationally in Saves per Game (5.28)
• Sebastian Flores ranks 47^th nationally in Shots per Game (3.63)
• Sebastian Flores leads the North Star with 25 points
• Sebastian Flores co-leads the North Star (along with Jack Humphries of Jamestown) with 11 goals

Players to Watch:

Bellevue –

• Sr. MF Tobias Maertzke (8 G, 4 A, 20 P)
• Sr. D Alan Carr (2 G, 1 A, 5 P)
• Sr. D Jamie Henderson (3 G, 3 A, 9 P)
• Jr. GK Ben Martin (9-3-4, 1.07 GAA, .763 Save Pct., 6 Shutouts)
• So. MF Rob Smith (4 G, 6 A, 14 P)
• So. MF Daniel Coupland (3 G, 1 A, 7 P)

Viterbo –

• Jr. F Marcel Benthin (4 G, 2 A, 10 P)
• So. F Sebastian Flores (11 G, 3 A, 25 P)
• Fr. F Jared Ewings (2 G, 5 A, 9 P)
• Fr. GK Quinten Ludwig (7-10-2, 95 Saves, 3 Clean Sheets)

What's next?:

The winner of this match advances to Sunday afternoon's championship match which will be played on the campus of the University of Jamestown. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. and will pit today's winner against the winner of 2^nd-seeded Waldorf and 3^rd-seeded Jamestown.