Box Score RICHMOND, Ky. – Belmont women's soccer dropped a heartbreaker to Eastern Kentucky on a golden goal Sunday afternoon at the EKU Soccer Field. The Colonels edged the Bruins, 1-0, in the 94th minute to finish the regular season.
The extended match was just the second of BU's season and the first that they dropped. The loss moves the squad to 10-6-1 overall and 6-4 in conference play.
The first half of play was fairly quiet for both teams as they each limited scoring opportunities in their respective territory. Belmont edged the shot count, 6-3, landing half of their shots on frame while the Colonels (9-4-4, 6-1-3 OVC) couldn't find the target in any of their chances.
Sophomore Niki Clements (Perkasie, Pa.) got the offense rolling in the opening minutes as she bent a shot that would've found the back of the net had it not flown just high of the crossbar. Freshman Julie Garst (Franklin, Tenn.) also created a great look for teammate Anna Brock Hawkins (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) later in the frame but the sophomore's shot once again rose above the frame.
Belmont and Eastern Kentucky headed to the locker rooms all knotted up at zero apiece with all six of the Bruins shots coming from different players.
Sophomore keeper Lily Herman (Springboro, Ohio) was called on for the first time in the 63rd minute when an Eastern Kentucky forward sent a bullet to the left side of the frame. Herman lunged toward the ball and made a stop with her outstretched hands to deny the Colonels of a goal, keeping the match scoreless. She would make all five of her saves in the second frame to help keep Belmont in the match.
While the Bruins continued to disrupt the Colonels offense in the second stanza, they struggled to create any shots of their own. Belmont's sole shot of the first 40 minutes in the second half came from Hawkins. It wasn't until the waning minutes of regulation that BU's offense came alive as they fired off three consecutive shots. Senior forward Belicia Mendiola (McKinney, Texas) had the best take in the slew of shots, firing one 16 yards out that was blocked by a Colonel defender to push the game to overtime.
Belmont made the first attack of the overtime period, when freshman forward Sydney Cason's (Hendersonville, Tenn.) shot at the top of the 8-yard box grazed the wrong side of the right post to keep the match scoreless. The Colonels took advantage of the Bruins missed opportunity, netting the golden goal on their counter attack to end the match in the 94th minute. Allison Werner notched the game winning goal for Eastern Kentucky.
UP NEXT
After the completion of all OVC contests Sunday afternoon Belmont's seeding in the conference tournament will be determined.
