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Box Score 2 NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont men's soccer team (3-3-0) defeated Bowling Green (4-2-0) by a score of 3-2 on Friday afternoon in the first contest of the Hyatt Place Brentwood Invitational. The Bruins' three goals were more than the Falcons had given up in their previous five tilts combined.
The Bruins got out to an extremely quick start, taking a 1-0 lead over the Falcons in the third minute of play. Junior Brandon Tarr (Knoxville, Tenn.) carried the ball past a couple of Bowling Green defenders before beating goalkeeper Miguel Rosales to the left side panel for the score.
The goal marked Tarr's team-leading third score of the season, and moved the forward into second place all-time in Belmont history with 18 career goals. He also moved into second for career points with 44 in his three seasons in Nashville.
BU then increased the lead to two when Tarr headed a ball across the box to sophomore Nico Olsak (Boca Raton, Fla.) in the 10th minute of play. The crafty midfielder one-timed a volley that beat Rosales and dipped under the cross bar to mark his second score of the year.
The Falcons were able to cut the Belmont lead to one just before the half as Colin Armstrong headed in a corner kick by Danny Baraldi to make it 2-1 with just over 10 minutes left in the first period.
After 30 minutes of scoreless play in the second half, the Bruins gave themselves some insurance when sophomore Alex Jenison (Evansville, Ind.) stole a BGSU pass just across the midfield mark. The pesky forward took a couple of steps with the ball before launching a strike from 35 yards out that sailed over the head of Rosales and into the back of the net.
The insurance proved to be necessary as less than four minutes later the Falcons were rewarded with a penalty kick after goalkeeper Lou Manning (Southlake, Texas) took out a Bowling Green forward in the box. Brandon Silva stepped up to the line and put away the penalty to make it 3-2 with just under 12 minutes left in regulation.
BU held on the rest of the way to pick up the 3-2 victory. Belmont was outshot by the Falcons 20-8, and picked up only two corner kicks to Bowling Green's eight. Manning finished with six saves, while Rosales totaled two saves for BGSU.
Belmont will next take on IPFW on final day action in the Hyatt Place Brentwood Invitational at Rose Park. The Bruins and the Mastodons will kick off at 1:00 p.m.
Belmont Head Coach Earle Davidson Quotes
Opening Statement
"We started off like gangbusters. We were outstanding with our possession, our creativity, and we scored two fast goals. Then maybe we got a little complacent and maybe a little careless with the ball at times, which allowed them to grab a little momentum at the end of the first half. But we played well. We were very mentally tough. We were very organized. We took some great chances and we finished some great opportunities off, but the second half was about being tough and smart. That's an outstanding win."
On The Two Early Goals
"We've been spending a lot of time on finishing our chances the last week and a half. We've played very well this season, and we haven't finished as well as we think we can, but in the last two games we've shown that we can. Brandon made a terrific run and a great finish, and Nico's goal was outstanding."
On Jenison's Goal
"He read the situation well, and he read it quickly. If he hesitated a bit there, then it's nothing. He picked his head up quickly and saw the keeper out, and it was just a fantastic touch from A.J.
On Moving Forward
"The group feels really good. They know that we've been playing really well all season, and a couple results have gone against us. To get a good result against a good team like today, it rewards us for playing as well as we have all season."
