Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mo.----The Bruins officially opened up the 2012 season versus the Missouri State Bears. The Bears head into the match as the Missouri Valley Conference reigning co-champions and have returned six key starters from their conference championship season.
The Bruins fought hard to settle in during the first half, letting up a quick goal in the 7th minute of the first half to Missouri State's Cole Alexander, giving a quick 1-0 advantage to the Bears. "It took us a while to settle in" said Belmont Head Coach Earle Davidson, "but we really controlled the game once we got comfortable."
In the second half the Bruins dominated the control of the game, leaning on the Bear defense. Then in the 66th minute of play, Pedro Miranda (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) scored a tremendous goal off an excellent challenge to set the game at a 1-1 tie.
Over the course of the end of regulation and two overtimes the game ended in a 1-1 tie. "We let them get away" Coach Davidson commented, "we really should have got the win here, but our men played fantastic; it was a nice start to the season."
The Bruins will hope to continue their excellent play into their next match this Sunday against another Missouri Valley opponent, the Aces of Evansville. The game will be at 2:00 p.m. in Evansville, Indiana.
