Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For a fifth time this season, the Belmont women's soccer team (3-10-1, 2-4 OVC) went into extra time to help decide a match. This time it fell the Bruins way as they toppled in-state rival Austin Peay (6-7, 2-3 OVC) in double overtime by the score of 2-1.
The Bruins got on the board first in the sixth minute behind a shot by senior Sydney Scheben (Union, Ky.), with assists going to sophomores Tara Austin (Beaumont, Texas) and Heather Ferrari (Duluth, Ga.). Belmont controlled the tempo and pace of the entire first stanza as they took the one goal advantage into the locker room.
After the break, the Lady Govs tried to free themselves from the grip of Belmont on both sides of the ball but were unsuccessful for more of the half. Finally, in the 79th minute, APSU was able to net the equalizer. Undaunted by the challenge, BU went back to work attacking the Austin Peay goal but was unable to connect down the stretch to take the game in regulation.
After an uneventful first overtime, the Bruins went on an attacking frenzy in the second. Belmont kept the ball in Lady Govs territory and barely let the ball get over the midfield line. Sophomore Belicia Mendiola (McKinney, Texas) was fouled about 60 yards out with just over three minutes remaining on the clock. She fired a rocket that creeped around the APSU wall and sailed into the upper left corner of the net to give the Bruins the 2-1 victory.
Belmont dominated in shots, 17-7, and held the narrow advantage in corner kicks, 3-2.
Junior Meg Howard (Brentwood, Tenn.) led the Bruins with four shots, followed by Scheben, senior Cassie Blase (Waukesha, Wisc.), Mendiola, and Austin with two apiece.
Between the posts, junior Stephanie Bukovec (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) finished with three saves.
Belmont returns to action on October 16 with a road trip to Southeast Missouri State.
