Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Belmont men's soccer team (2-4-1) picked up a dramatic win on Friday night at Rose Park for the first day of the Mafiaoza's Invitational. Propelled by a hat trick by senior Brandon Tarr (Knoxville, Tenn.), the Bruins edged Central Connecticut State (1-4), 3-2, with less than two minutes remaining in the second overtime to improve to 2-4-1 on the seaon.
BU struck first, with Tarr finding the back of the net in the 15th minute of the first stanza after a strong opening by Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils did not wait long to find the equalizer, sneaking the ball into the Belmont goal barely eight minutes later. Locked in a 1-1 stalemate, the squads battled back and forth for the remainder of the half for ball control and time of possession. However, neither was able to outhustle the other, forcing play into the midfield for long stretches before the teams headed to the locker rooms.
After the break, the Blue Devils wasted little time looking for the go ahead goal, collecting a trio of corner kicks and shots in the first nine minutes. CCSU kept attacking the Bruin goal until the 63rd minute when it used a richocheted high ball to bounce into the back of the net to pull ahead by one goal, 2-1. Down but not out, the Bruins rallied over the next 10 minutes to stay in the match. Junior Nico Olsak (Boca Raton, Fla.) perfectly timed a pass to Tarr's waiting head for the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Both teams ramped up their intensity in an attempt to avoid extra periods but all attempts sailed wide, forcing the teams into overtime.
In the first extra period, the sqauds used their time wisely in hopes of netting the golden goal. CCSU had two strong scoring opportunities but was unable to convert and a fiery shot by junior Diego Figueroa (Pensacola, Fla.) flew wide of the net, sending the teams into a second and deciding extra period.
In the second overtime, the Blue Devils opened aggressively but it was Olsak, who fired off back-to-back shots inside the box that barely missed ending the contest. As the clock ticked toward the final five minutes of the contest, the Bruins attacked. BU managed to tally four consecutive corner kicks in the span of 90 seconds as it hunted for the golden goal. CCSU made one final attempt in the 107th minute but it would be Tarr again, this time less than 45 seconds later, who would put the game away. Again with the help of Olsak, Tarr notched his third goal of the night to give the Bruins the win in the 108th minute of action.
Tarr led BU with five shots while Olsak, Figueroa and sophomore Tyler Vieth (Evansville, Ind.) each tallied three shots.
Senior Lou Manning (Southlake, Texas) went the distance between the posts, finishing with six saves.
Central Connecticut State held the narrow advantage in shots, 19-18, and corner kicks, 10-6.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday for the final day of the Mafiaoza's Invitational. The Bruins take on Bradley beginning at 2:35 pm. CCSU and Lipscomb face off beginning at 12:05 pm. Live stats will be available for all of the contests.
