Box Score CHARLESTON, Ill. – Belmont women's soccer clinched its first road win of the season to secure a weekend sweep as they beat Eastern Illinois, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon.
BU (3-6-3, 2-2 OVC) controlled the pace for a majority of the game as they held EIU (4-8-0, 1-3 OVC) to just four shots the full duration of the match. While the Bruins restricted the Panthers offense, they released 10 shots of their own, getting 7 on the frame, including the game-winning goal.
With 15 minutes remaining in the match, freshman defender Bailey Heywood (Stockbridge, Ga.) ignited what had been a quiet second half for the Bruins with a stifling drive down the field. The rookie maneuvered her way through multiple EIU defenders to create an open look at the goal. She gathered herself and fired a shot straight at the Panthers goalkeeper, Sara Teteak, who had to make a diving save to keep the match scoreless.
On the following attack, sophomore midfielder Emily Whitcomb (Elmhurst, Ill.) was stationed at the left post and positioned perfectly to tap the go-ahead goal in after multiple Bruins attempted to get the shot off to put the Bruins up, 1-0. Junior defender Heather Ferrari (Duluth, Ga.) initiated the play by sending a beautiful cross into the box. It was Whitcomb's second time finding the back of the net this season, both ruled as game-winning goals.
The Bruins got off to a hot start, registering the first three shots of the afternoon highlighted by a cutting pass from freshman defender Niki Clements (Perkasie, Pa.) to Jessi Boozer (Brentwood, Tenn.) in the 15th minute, but the sophomore delivered the ball directly to Teteak.
The Bruins stout defense held the Panthers to just one shot in in the first frame, while launching seven of thier own. Boozer, junior defender Tara Austin (Beaumont, Tenn.) and freshman midfielder MacKenzie Firek (Brentwood, Tenn.) each created a pair of attempts, combining for four shots on frame. BU's offense saw its best look of the half on a shot constructed by Firek 20-yards out that ricocheted off the crossbar to keep the match scoreless in the 38th minute.
Austin launched a team-high three shots in the match, getting all three on frame.
Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) posted her third shutout of the year, and her second in as many games. Bukovec's shutout of the Panther's also moved her into fifth All-Time in the Bruins record book as she claimed her seventh career shutout during her year and a half at Belmont thus far, moving her ahead of Lindsey Espe. While the veteran keeper only register a pair of saves on the box score, she interrupted multiple crosses and rushed EIU's attackers to force shots away from the frame.
This is the first time all season that the Bruins have won consecutive games as well as earning their first win on the road.
UP NEXT:
Belmont will have a weekend home stand Oct. 7 & 9 as they host UT Martin on Friday and Southeast Missouri Sunday. Fridays match is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start time.
