Bello's two goals lift the Tigers to a 2-1 win over KCK in the regular-season finale

Playing its final regular season game, the No. 7-ranked Cowley College men's soccer team got a pair of second-half goals from Carmelo Bello to send its sophomores out in style with a 2-1 win over Kansas City on Wednesday in Arkansas City, KS.

Cowley improves to 11-1-3 overall and finishes in first place in the Jayhawk Conference with a record of 9-0-3. Kansas City is now 5-3-4 overall and 5-3-3 in the conference. 

Cowley trailed 1-0 at the end of the first half as Kansas City got a goal from Christian Cenoble at the 33:14 mark of the opening half.

The score would remain 1-0 until Bello tied the game at 1-1 with the first of his two goals with 36:12 remaining. Bello would add his second goal with 29:50 left to play, and the Tigers would hold on for the 2-1 win.

Bello is now with Shogo Haraikawa for the team lead in goals with seven.

"Carmelo is a tremendous talent; he stepped up when we needed him," Cowley head coach Ruy Vaz said. "Great players show up in moments of pressure and I am glad he was able to get us out of trouble. I am not happy with our performance, but we got it done, and it's good to finish the regular season with a win."

Cowley is 4-0-2 in its past six contests and finished the regular season with a record of 6-1- 1 at home.

The Tigers will have some time off before hosting the First Round of the Region VI Playoffs on Saturday, November 2.

"Playoffs are always high intensity and high pressure, so I am very happy we have these 10 days to regroup, recover, and prepare for the next battles," Vaz said.