Box Score LEXINGTON, Ky. - - Belmont University men's soccer dropped a 2-0 decision Sunday afternoon at Kentucky.
The Wildcats welcomed Belmont for the first regular season match in the newly-minted Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.
In the 12th minute, sophomore Nat Hubert (Chichester, England) freed senior Diego Figueroa (Pensacola, Fla.) down the right flank, but as Figueroa entered the box to challenge goal he was dispossessed.
Moments later, senior Luca Schioppa (Sao Paulo, Brazil) found freshman Rashad Hyacenth (D'Abadie, Trinidad & Tobago) near the six yard line, but the subsequent header would go high.
Both teams stayed extremely disciplined and in their structure, inhibiting true scoring opportunities. In fact, the first corner kick of the match did not take place until the 38th minute.
After not being tested in the opening 45, sophomore goalkeeper Grayson Rector (Peachtree City, Ga.) made a fine diving save on Kristoffer Tollefsen's free kick attempt in the 51st minute.
Then after another Figueroa cross went begging - and as winds and rain freshened - in the 60th minute, Tollefsen was the beneficiary of a redirect off a Kentucky corner kick that bounced past an obstructed Rector to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
After being held scoreless for over three and a half matches (including exhibition play), the Wildcats were seemingly freed up, as 13 minutes later Stefan Stojkovic found Ryan Creel for a clean back post goal and a 2-0 margin.
The Bruins tried to push forward, but simply could not connect in the attacking third.
Freshman Matt Vuylsteke (Hamilton, Ont., Canada) nearly got on the board in the waning moments, but Callum Irving was up to the task.
Belmont was poised and purposeful the entire way at South Carolina into the wee hours of Saturday morning, but this day, the Bruins were just a step off.
"It was a tough match, and we weren't at our best," Belmont head coach Bryan Green told belmontbruins.com afterwards. "The match against South Carolina and the travel definitely took it out of us. But we did have some good moments and had a great chance late. We just need to be more consistent so we aren't relying on a few moments. Credit to Kentucky."
Belmont (0-2) returns to action Friday, Sept. 5 at Evansville.
