Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While Belmont women's soccer said farewell to its senior class, they also said hello to rookie Anna Brock Hawkins (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) in the opening seconds of the match as she clinched what would be the game-winning goal in a 3-0 rout of Morehead State Sunday afternoon at Rose Park. The Bruins victory was one for the books as they carved their fifth consecutive shutout, marking the longest scoreless streak in program history.
It took the Bruins (5-6-4, 4-2-1) no longer than 42 seconds to find themselves in control as Hawkins found the back of the net on the teams opening attack. After making their way down the field, the squad put together a team effort creating a couple shots to pull Morehead State's goalkeeper Eva Ýr Helgadóttir out of goal. Senior midfielder Meg Howard (Brentwood, Tenn.) tapped the ball to Hawkins who converted on an open frame to put Belmont up 1-0 before the clock had reached a minute - the fastest that BU has scored this season.
Instead of laying back and defending their goal, the team continued to pressure the Eagles (5-10-2, 2-5-1) and hung five unanswered shots up in the first 15 minutes of action. Junior defender Tara Austin (Beaumont, Texas) nearly doubled the Bruins advantage in the eighth minute when she connected on a corner kick placed beautifully by classmate Heather Ferrari (Duluth, Ga.). Austin headed the ball in the left corner of the goal, but Morehead State earned a team save deflecting the shot attempt.
Belmont controlled the pace of the game early and often, only allowing Morehead State to release three attempts in the first stanza. Its closest look came in the 32nd minute when Haley Best gathered herself and came within inches of striking, but Ferrari came swooping in and blocked the shot to keep BU's shutout intact.
The second half opened in similar fashion with the Bruins increasing their lead to 2-0 in the first four minutes of the frame. This time Howard found herself on the receiving end of a cross from forward Belicia Mendiola (McKinney, Texas) who darted past a par of Eagles and sent the ball into scoring territory. The ball was slightly tapped by Helgadóttir's replacement, Michelle Washburn, but Howard rebounded the pass and sent it in. The veteran now leads the team with three goals on the season.
While BU held a comfortable lead with 32 minutes remaining in the match, they weren't ready to back down. Fifty-seven minutes and 87 seconds after clinching her first career goal, Hawkins did it again. Sitting 30-yards out the rookie pulled the trigger and sent the ball firing between Washburn's hands and into the net, giving Belmont a 3-0 lead.
Today's match was just the second time this season that the Bruins tallied multiple goals, and the first time that they've scored three in one match. Belmont recorded a season high 27 shots, while keeping Morehead State to just nine attempts on the day.
As if they weren't already doing enough, Belmont held it down defensively as well recording a program-best five consecutive shutouts. Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) hasn't allowed a goal since Sept. 25, bringing her total to 481 scoreless minutes. The Canada product rejected three shots today with help from Belmont's stifling defense.
UP NEXT
BU will wrap up its regular season with a three game road stint. The team will head Clarksville, Tennessee and face Austin Peay on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:00 p.m.
