Bellevue completes season sweep of Briar Cliff

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Behind goals from Jeremiah Hteh and Adam Sherwood the No. 9-ranked Bellevue University men's soccer team defeated Briar Cliff University 3-1 on Saturday evening at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.

With their fourth-straight victory, Bellevue improved to 6-1-1 on the year while Briar Cliff fell to 3-3-0 with the loss.

Bellevue owned the majority of the attack in the early-going with their mounting pressure producing a goal in the 11^th minute. Off a set piece, Buster Honeywood played Jeremiah Hteh into the box. Hteh took a touch before ripping a shot to the near post. His shot deflected off the inside of the post and rippled the back of the net for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 Bruin advantage.

The Bruins had a chance to add on in the 40^th minute during a scramble in the box. The ball came to Joshua Harvey at about the edge of the six. He was unable to get full power behind his shot but managed to send an effort on goal though it was cleared off the line by a Briar Cliff defender.

At halftime, the score remained 1-0 in favor of Bellevue who out-shot the Chargers 10-0 in the opening 45 minutes, putting three shots on goal and winning each of the corners awarded.

Juan Lagares and Adam Sherwood nearly connected on a goal 10 minutes into the second half. Lagares came up with a BCU turnover and slid a cross into the center of the box for Sherwood but his sliding effort sailed over the bar.

Just over 90 seconds later, Briar Cliff pulled level at the other end. Pablo Gonzalez slotted a pass through the box to Alejandro Illan at the near post. Illan timed up a shot and hit it in stride to tie the game.

The Bruins wasted little time in regaining their lead with Adam Sherwood recording his third tally of the season. Lagares sent a corner to the back post and Honeywood headed back to the front of the goal where Sherwood rose up to meet the ball with his head in the 62^nd minute.

Honeywood added an insurance strike in the 72^nd minute via a free kick from 25 yards. He went over the Briar Cliff wall with a shot and froze the BCU keeper in place as the ball found the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

The Chargers had a chance to pull within a goal in the 85^th minute but Illan's volley attempt sailed high.

Bellevue out-shot Briar Cliff 16-5 overall and 7-3 on goal in the match while corner kicks were even at five apiece.

Kaden Simpson totaled two saves in goal for the Bruins while Ferdinand Ovrevik Dahl finished with three saves for Briar Cliff.

The Bruins return to action when they welcome the University of Science & Arts on Tuesday, Sept. 16 for a 2 p.m. kick-off from the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex.