Box Score The Bluefield men's soccer team picked up a winning shutout on Monday in the opening round of pool play at the NCCAA National Championship Tournament. With the 2-0 victory, BC improves to 12-7-2 on the season while Bethesda falls to 8-9-1. With the game between Bluefield and Bethesda being the only game played in Pool C on Monday, Bluefield now holds a three-point edge in the three-team pool. 

It was a slow start for the Rams in the opening 15 minutes of play, as Bethesda came out with high pressure on the Rams and caused some early trouble for the home side on the night. Sophmore GK Daren Hodges had to make one good save in the early portion of the match off a free-kick by Bethesda, but Hodges' diving save denied the early goal.

Bluefield would settle into the game as the game went along in the first half and found success in the transition to open their opponent up.

The Rams would take a one-goal advantage in the 23rd minute when Joao Delgado received the ball 40 yards out from goal, turned and slipped a pass into Ahouman's left foot. Jean-Emmanuel would cut two defenders and slam in the opening goal in the top right corner for the advantage. 

It wouldn't take long for the Rams to double their lead, just three minutes later in the 26th minute. 

Off a goalkeeper punt by Daren Hodges, the ball landed in Bethesda's half to the feet of Ahouman once again. Ahouman beat his defender and slotted home his 2nd goal of the night. 

The brace by Jean-Emmanuel Ahouman was his 12th & 13th goal of the season. The 2-nil result was Bluefield's 7th shutout of the season. Bluefield would play 18 players on the night and outshoot Bethesda 12-8 on the night.

"It was somewhat of a slow start for us," noted Head Coach Chase Neidig. "I think coming off a 10-day break showed early on, but we were able to knock off the rust and get after it as the first half went along. I thought we looked good for a good spell of each half and more importantly we were able to use our depth to provide several players with quality minutes as we look to make a deep run in the tournament".

Bluefield will now receive the day off on Tuesday before they return to action on Wednesday in their second and final pool-play game when they taken on #4-seed Southwestern Christian at 6pm in Kissimmee. 

Based off a point-system, the top team in each of the three groups plus the top last remaining 4th place team will receive the final four spots in the semi-final round on Friday. 

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