Bellevue controls second half to reach National Quarterfinals

WICHITA, Kan. -- Kevin Becerril and Gabriel Dias Juliani scored second half goals to lift the Bellevue University men's soccer team to a 2-0 win over #22 Indiana Wesleyan University in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Round of 16 at the Scheels Stryker Sports Complex.

Bellevue improves to 14-5-4 with the victory. The Bruins advance to the Quarterfinal Round where they will meet #19 Milligan University (17-2-4) on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 10 a.m.. The Buffaloes defeated #9 University of Mobile 4-2 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw.

The Bruins will be making their second NAIA Quarterfinal appearance, with the other coming during the 2020 season.

With the loss, Indiana Wesleyan ends their season with a 13-4-4 overall record.

Kevin Becerril gave Bellevue saw the first quality scoring chance of the match in the sixth minute as he took a pass about 10 yards from goal but saw his shot deflected wide.

Brandon Nyagurungo delivered the Wildcats their best chance early, dribbling along the endline towards goal but Buster Honeywood made a sliding tackle to kick the ball off Nyagurungo and out for a goal kick.

The Bruins continued to control the flow of the game and won a corner in the 15^th minute that Caedmon Schwanke got a head to but directed it wide.

Guzman Trigo delivered the first dangerous chance for IWU. He collected a clearance attempt by the edge of the 18 and rifled a shot towards the net that caried high for a goal kick.

Approaching the half hour mark, Jake Cover carried the ball to the edge of the Indiana Wesleyan 18 before spotting Schwanke wide open across the top of the box. His pass found Schwanke in stride who hit a one-time effort the rifled less than a foot over the bar.

In the dying minutes of the first half, following a Wildcat foul, Bellevue sent a cross into the box. Ombeni Mubake flicked on a header towards Álvaro Moros Sanz but he was unable to generate an attempt at goal.

The final moments of the half expired with the game still scoreless despite 14 combined shots. BU out-shot Indiana Wesleyan 8-6 overall but the Wildcats held a slight 3-2 edge in shots on goal, despite none really troubling keeper Taariq Ganga.

Moments into the second half, Becerril put the Bruins on the board with his fourth goal of the year. Carlos Ortega Arguelles sent a long throw into the box that was flicked on by headers from Schwanke and Gabriel Dias Juliani to Becerril who hit a volley for a 1-0 lead.

Dias Juliani put the game away with his 86^th minute strike. Giovani Lima Soares sent in a corner kick that slipped through IWU keeper Aaron Carr's fingers and dropped at the feet of Dias Juliani. His fourth goal of the year gave Bellevue a 2-0 lead with just 4:37 remaining and the BU, like they have done all postseason, salted away the final moments.

Ganga finished with five saves for the Bruins in the win which Aaron Carr matched in goal for IWU.

Bellevue out-shot Indiana Wesleyan 15-11 in the match and shots on goal finished 7-5 in favor of the Bruins.