Bellevue suffers first defeat, 1-0, at MVC in top 10 match-up

MARSHALL, Mo. -- Tate Richards scored the lone goal as No. 7 Missouri Valley College dealt the No. 5 Bellevue University men's soccer team their first loss of the season, 1-0, on Wednesday evening in an NAIA Top 10 match-up.

The Bruins see their 19-match regular season unbeaten streak come to an end as they fall to 11-1-2 on the year. Missouri Valley improves to 10-1-2 and are now unbeaten in their last 11.

Missouri Valley looked to take a quick lead, nearly opening the scoring in the game's third minute but an offside flag was raised disallowing what would have been an own goal.

The Vikings controlled the majority of possession through the opening 20 minutes with much of that possession occurring in the Bellevue half of the field.

Possession leveled out some towards the middle of the half before MVC again saw attacking advantages resulting in shots and corners. A 36^th minute strike from Kazuki Hashimoto rifled over the crossbar in what had been the best scoring chance for either side since the opening moments.

The final five minutes of the half saw Bellevue finally gain some momentum going forward but BU was unable to generate any shots and the game entered halftime scoreless. Missouri Valley out-shot the Bruins 4-0 in the first 45 minutes and piled up a matching 4-0 edge in corner kicks.

Yoshiki Igarashi registered the first shot of the second half for the Vikings with a quick step back move but his effort sailed just over the bar and out of play.

Missouri Valley broke through with the game's first goal in the 60^th minute. An initial headed shot from Malik Hasinovic off a Viking corner was kept out by Fletcher Hedge with a deliberate hand ball and was shown a red card for the play. Tate Richards stepped to the penalty spot and slotted home his first goal of the season.

Matias Daniel-Doren delivered Bellevue's first shot of the match in the 80^th minute following a yellow card to Strahinja Durdic. His shot from 27 yards bent around the wall before Cristobal Benitez made a diving save. Jeremiah Hteh had a follow-up attempt that Benitez was able to get a glove to keeping Missouri Valley in front.

Bellevue won an 87^th minute free kick just off the corner of the 18 after Giovani Lima Soares drew a foul but Daniel-Doren's delivery to the back post was cleared away.

Taariq Ganga finished with three saves in goal for Bellevue while MVC's Cristobal Benitez made a pair of saves in the shutout.

The Bruins return home on Saturday, Oct. 19 when they host the University of Jamestown in a 3:30 p.m. kick-off. Senior Day ceremonies will precede the game.