OMAHA, NEB. – Graeme Eaglesham scored a goal in the 89th minute for Bellevue University, spoiling a terrific effort by the Iowa Wesleyan College men’s soccer team and giving the 12th-ranked Bruins a 1-0 win Saturday afternoon.
Eaglesham scored when the Tigers were unable to clear a Bellevue corner kick late in the second half. He beat IWC goalkeeper Troy Osborne (So.-Sydney, Australia) with just 1:33 left in the second half, and the Bruins held on to deal the Tigers the loss in their season opener.
Bellevue, 2-0 and ranked #12 in the NAIA preseason men’s soccer coaches’ poll, controlled play and outshot the Tigers 23-5. Wesleyan executed its game plan, though, according to Head Coach Ed Heberling, and Osborne shut the Bruins down with seven saves as IWC hung tough throughout.
Michael Roberts (Sr.-St. John’s, Antigua) had three of the Tigers’ five shots, as well as one of the two shots on goal. Alex Marchese (So.-Toronto, Ontario) had the other shot on goal. IWC lost in the men’s soccer head coaching debut of Heberling, who is in his first season coaching the men as well as his seventh season coaching the Tiger women.
The Wesleyan women had a tougher time against another strong Bellevue team, as the Bruins scored three times in the second half on the way to a 4-0 win. Four different players scored goals for Bellevue and IWC had just one shot on goal in losing its season opener.
The Bruins, ranked just outside the top 25 in the preseason NAIA women’s soccer coaches poll, scored a pair of goals 2 ½ minutes apart early in the second half to take control. Krystyn Yancone tallied at 55:37 and Jenna Pendley scored at the 58:07 mark, making it 3-0.
Cara Arnold (So.-Davis Junction, Ill.) had nine saves in goal for IWC. Brittney Moss (So.-Genoa, Ill.) had two shots for Wesleyan, as well as the only shot on goal.
The Tigers are back in action again on Sunday, as the men and women face Dana College in Blair, Neb. The women play at 1 p.m. with the men’s match to follow at 3 p.m.
For more information regarding the IWC soccer programs or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
Women Bellevue 4 IWC 0
Men #12 Bellevue 1 IWC 0
