MNU ends BU season in Opening Round

OMAHA, Neb. -- Dennis Palacios delivered a rocket strike from nearly 35 yards to break a one-all tie and give MidAmerica Nazarene University a 2-1 win over the Bellevue University men's soccer team on Saturday evening in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round final.

Records:

#8 Bellevue: 16-3-2
#18 MNU: 13-6-1

MNU 2, Bruins 1

Rick Hovinga opened the scoring by converting a penalty kick in the 22^nd minute to give the Pioneers the upper hand.

The first half featured a pair of very evenly matched sides, with MNU having the better of play and chances in the opening 20-25 minutes before Bellevue started stringing passes together more successfully.

Both teams attempted four shots in the first half and BU's best opportunity came from a Toby Millward free kick that Enzo Carvalho saved to keep the Pioneers in front.

Bellevue played with renewed intensity from the start of the second half, racking up almost all the shots and chances going forward. Their efforts were rewarded in the 67^th minute when the referee played a Bruin advantage. Alex Cuenca sent a cross from the near sideline to Anthony Cox at the far side of the box before Cox whipped a ball in on goal that Oumar Sissoko came sliding into and directed into the net.

The Bruins continued to pressure and generate chances but MNU found the go-ahead goal in the final 10 minutes.

After a series of fouls and clearances deep in the Bellevue end, Dennis Palacios ran onto a clearance about 35 yards from goal with space and unleashed a high shot under the crossbar for a 2-1 lead in the 81^st minute.

Bellevue's best chances to equalize came on an attempt by Zach Robbins from 25 yards that went wide of goal and a header from Sissoko that Carvalho saved with just over a minute to play.

Coach Mark Heath-Preston:

"This team has had many good moments in the last few years. Tonight was a difficult one to take. We must be proud of the work we have done over the years to put Bellevue in this position. We thank the guys who are leaving us and for the rest of us we have to go again."

Notes:

• Bellevue records 16 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
• The loss snaps a streak of six-straight wins by the Bruins in the Opening Round.
• BU is now 7-3 all-time in Opening Round matches.
• Toby Millward concludes his Bruin career as the all-time assists leader (35) and co-leader with 111 career points. He also ranks third with 38 goals scored.
• Andy Wilkinson's 101 career games are also a program record.
• AJ Jarvis concludes his career with several goalkeeping records, including; wins (51), games played (78), minutes played (6977:26), and shutouts (26).
• Oumar Sissoko finishes the season with the second-most goals by a Bruin in a season (17), equaling Mark Heath-Preston's 2008 season, and tied for first with game-winning goals (7) equaling Inaki Aldao's 2020 mark.
• Anthony Cox became just the fourth player, and first freshman, to record 10 assists in a single-season.
• Bellevue's 10 shutouts this season are tied for the most in a season, equaling the 2018 team's record.