Bruins cruise to sixth straight MCAC Tournament title

OMAHA, Neb. - Junior Betsy Fischenich (Omaha, Neb.) scored twice and senior Mercy Darkoah (Sheffield, England) added a goal and an assist as the Bellevue women's soccer team defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan University by a final count of 4-0 to claim their sixth straight Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship on Friday evening at Tranquility Park.

Bellevue (16-1-0) struck early and often on a bitterly cold night to run their season-best win streak to 11 and claim the seventh tournament title in program history. For Oklahoma Wesleyan (10-9-0), the loss marks the fifth consecutive season in which the Eagles have finished as the bridesmaids in the MCAC.

Darkoah, the MCAC Offensive Player of the Year, got the Bruins on the board in just the tenth minute with her conference-leading 20^th goal of the season following a turnover by Oklahoma Wesleyan. Darkoah found herself with possession of the ball just outside the 18-yard box, worked her way in, and delivered a high-arcing shot over the keeper's head to the opposite side of the net.

The Bruins continued to show their ability to score in bunches, tallying three goals in a span of just 6:36 to close the first half and open the second.

Fischenich, a first team All-MCAC selection, doubled the BU advantage in the 40^th minute. A free ball worked its way into the box which Fischenich collected on the bounce, settled, and snuck a shot past the charging keeper for her 17^th strike of the year.

After earning a free kick, three-time First Team All-MCAC pick Yaritza Estrada (Omaha, Neb.) unleashed a devilish shot with her left foot from 35 yards out that took a wicked hop at the edge of the six-yard box and bounded past the astonished keeper to make it 3-0 in favor of the host side with just 1:18 to play before the break.

Fischenich struck for the second time in the match in the 46^th minute. Just 40 seconds into the second half Darkoah slid a through pass to the edge of the six-yard box. Fischenich was able to catch up to it and sent her sliding effort past the diving keeper to account for the final margin.

Freshman MCAC Newcomer of the Year Laurence Rodier (Quebec, Canada) needed only to make one save to preserve her fourth clean sheet of the season, lowering her goals against average to 0.52 and running her record in net to 10-0-0.

Bellevue out-shot the visiting Eagles by a final count of 16-3, holding a healthy 8-1 advantage in shots on goal, and grabbing four of the game's five corner kicks.

With the victory the No. 18 Bruins have secured the MCAC's lone automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Bellevue will play in an Opening Round match next weekend with a time and location to be determined.