Bruins, Pride play to scoreless draw in Top 25 battle

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Playing their second ranked opponent in four days, the No. 7-ranked Bellevue University men's soccer team picked up a 0-0 road draw at No. 23-ranked Clarke University on Saturday evening.

BU sees their record move to 2-1-1 while Clarke remained unbeaten, moving to 2-0-2 on the year.

The game, originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. kick-off was delayed until 8:15 p.m. due to a facility issue.

Clarke out-shot Bellevue 9-4 in the first half, putting five shots on frame to BU's three. Kaden Simpson made five saves in the period for Bellevue while Lucas Fontana stopped all three shots he faced in the half.

Bellevue won a free kick 25 yards from goal in the 67^th minute. Several Bruins stood over the ball before Okan Erkocu took the set piece, sending a shot off the wall for a throw-in.

Two minutes later William Arana found himself in a dangerous area for Clarke. He took a pass near the center of the box and unleashed a shot but his effort was denied by Simpson to keep the game scoreless.

Clarke's Yuto Nisho had the last best chance of the match with his shot from inside the area rifling just inches wide of the post in the 85^th minute.

Chances were limited the rest of the way as neither team was able to find the back of the net and the two sides had to settle for a scoreless draw.

Clarke out-shot Bellevue 17-9 overall and 9-4 on goal on the evening, doubling up the Bruins 4-2 in corner kicks.

Simpson finished with a career-high nine saves in goal for Bellevue while Fontana totaled four saves for the Pride.

Bellevue travels to Sioux City, Iowa on Wednesday, Sept. 3 for a 3:30 p.m. kick-off against Briar Cliff.