Posted: Nov 12, 2022

Bellevue Wins Third Straight Title with 2022 CAC Men’s Soccer Crown

Bellevue University (Nebraska) made a goal in the opening minute stand up in defeating Florida National University 1-0 to capture the 2022 Continental Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Championship on Saturday afternoon from Georgia Gwinnett College's Grizzly Soccer Complex.

It marks the third straight conference title for the Bruins.

The championship match featured Bellevue as the tournament's No. 4 seed against the No. 3 seed Conquistadors.

Bellevue's Jake Cover had a long dribble down the left side of the pitch before curving a shot from 15 yards away around Florida National goalkeeper Victor Ruiz and into the lower right corner of the goal. This deciding goal came just 57 seconds into the match and was the only shot the team would manage in the first half.

Florida National attempted three shots during the first half and played the final 52 minutes of the match down a man after being assessed a red card penalty on a breakaway attempt.

Meanwhile, Bellevue goalkeeper Romeo Paparesta came up large in posting his second shutout of the tournament. He saved a penalty kick in the 43rd minute by Francisco Crimi to keep the Bruins ahead by the one-goal margin. Paparesta made two saves in the match.

Bellevue managed to collect six shots and five corner kicks with the man advantage but was unable to put one of those shots into the back of the net.

Oumar Sissoko and Cover led the victors with each having two shots.

Florida National's five-shot offensive effort was paced by Artur Pameira with two shots. Ruiz collected four saves in the contest.

Continental Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team

Most Outstanding Player: Alvaro Capra, Bellevue University

Jaeger Erickson, Bellevue University

Romeo Paparesta, Bellevue University

Sebastian Zepata, Bellevue University

Marcos Bakale, Florida National University

Arthur Barbosa, Florida National University

Vinicius Mallmann, Florida National University

Karim Tmimi, Georgia Gwinnett College