Bellevue continues perfect start with win at Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Inaki Aldao scored the lone goal off an assist from Alvaro Capra and the defense thwarted numerous advances to give the Bellevue University men's soccer team their third-straight victory, 1-0 over Columbia College, to open the season on Saturday evening at R. Marvin Owens Field.

Records:

Bellevue: 3-0-0
Columbia: 0-1-0

Recap: BU 1, Columbia 0

Bellevue dominated possession in the opening half and generated the majority of the attack going forward. While shots were equal at four apiece in the opening 45 minutes, Columbia managed little sustained success going forward.

Toby Millward had the first good scoring chance of the game for either side in the 18^th minute but Liam Gibbs turned his attempt aside.

The Bruins kept the pressure on and struck for first the game's first goal in the 37^th minute. Ramy Katit played the ball in behind the defense to Alvaro Capra who in turn sent a low cross from inside the box to Inaki Aldao. Aldao turned and slotted the ball between the keeper and nearside goalpost for his second goal of the season.

Columbia turned up the pressure and tried to control tempo in the second half. The Cougars pushed forward in search of an equalizer but each time the BU defense stood tall, turning away Columbia advances without allowing any quality looks at goal.

The Bruins had a chance to extend their lead on a counter in the 82^nd minute but Eli Brown's attempt was saved by Gibbs.

Bellevue survived a frantic final few minutes as Columbia earned a pair of corner kicks in the final three minutes but keeper Harry Wray and the Bruin defense did well to prevent the Cougars to getting a shot off.

Wray finished with a pair of saves to secure his first clean sheet of the campaign. Gibbs also recorded two saves in a losing effort for Columbia.

The Bruins finished the game with a 6-5 advantage in shots, including a 3-2 edge in shots on goal.

Man of the Match:

Alvaro Capra -- Came off the bench to provide energy and effort defensively while also assisting on the goal by Aldao.

Coach Mark Heath-Preston:

"Columbia is a good team and we had to work hard in the second half. They didn't have a clear chance in the game and that shows how well we defended. Andy Wilkinson was outstanding and Alvaro Capra made a big impact coming off the bench both with his work rate and assist for Inaki. The team has been tremendous with their commitment and work rate through these three games.

Up Next:

Bellevue travels to Hillsboro, Kan. on Tuesday, Sept. 15 to conclude their three-game road stint. The Bruins are slated to face Tabor College from Joel H. Wiens Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Notes:

• Bellevue improves to 3-0-0, marking the sixth time ('96, '04, '05, '10, '18, '20) in program history they opened the season with at least 3-straight victories. The program's best start to a season is 5-straight wins to open the 2010 season.
• The shutout was Columbia first time being blanked since Nov. 17, 2018, ending a run of 24-straight games in which they had scored a goal.
• For the second time in three seasons, Bellevue handed the Cougars a season-opening loss.
• BU improves to 5-4-0 all-time (4-2-0 away) against Columbia with all nine meetings occurring since 2005.
• The goal by Aldao, his 27^th as a Bruin, moves him one behind assistant coach Graeme Eaglesham for seventh on BU's all-time list.