Bruins fall 4-0 on road at Benedictine

ATCHISON, Kan. --

Goals 74 seconds apart in the second half saw Benedictine College extend a lead en route to a 4-0 victory over the Bellevue University women's soccer team on Wednesday evening.

The win was the fifth in a row for Benedictine as the Ravens improved to 6-3-1 on the year, while Bellevue fell to 6-2-2 with the loss.

Benedictine's Payton Vogelbacher produced the game's first shot, working in behind the BU defense in the fifth minute, but her effort on goal was redirected on a sprawling stop by Alessia Ricciardi.

Vogelbacher pressured Bellevue into a turnover in the 13th minute off the edge of the box. Her attempt from 12 yards was again swatted away by Ricciardi.

Bellevue had their first chance on goal in the 25th minute with Mia Hurt coming up with a steal and sending a long-range shot on goal but Mackenzie Korzenecki made the save for the Ravens.

Benedictine got on the board in the 30th minute when Christine Znidarsic sent in a cross from the near sideline. Her ball went over the head of one Raven attack onto Jenna Wilken, who headed home the chance for a 1-0 Raven lead.

The Bruins had a couple of shots late in the half, with the best effort coming off the foot of Ketlyn Rota, who had her shot saved in the 43rd minute, and BU entered halftime down 1-0 despite Bellevue out-shooting Benedictine 10-9 in the half. The Ravens put four shots on goal to Bellevue's three and doubled BU up on corners 2-1.

Hannah Phillips had a chance on goal for Benedictine in the 52nd minute as Grace Heeb played her into the box, but Ricciardi again saved her left-footed attempt.

Ricciardi came up with a leaping save in the 57th minute, vaulting to her right to turn aside Znidarsic's attempt at goal.

BU had one of their best looks of the second half in the 70th minute. Rota laid a ball off to Emma Madej, who ripped a shot toward the goal but saw it and said it was just wide of the target.

Two minutes later, in the 72nd, the Ravens doubled their lead. Lizzy Gresch dumped a ball into the box that Ricciardi overran, which left Mollie Finley there to tap home a soft volley.

Anna Bolger added another goal just 1:14 later with a 74th-minute tally. She saw her initial shot stopped but followed up the rebound to knock home an insurance strike.

Wilken accounted for the final margin in the 87th minute, volleying home a cross from Vogelbacher.

The Ravens finished with a 19-14 advantage in shots, 10-4 on goal, and 4-1 on corner kicks.

Bellevue has a 10-day break before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 5, with a 1 p.m. kick-off at the University of Jamestown.