Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Belicia Mendiola (McKinney, Texas) scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season, and the Belmont women's soccer team played to a 1-1 overtime draw with UAB on Sunday afternoon. The tie runs the Bruins' record to 4-2-1 in nonconference games as they now prepare for their Ohio Valley Conference schedule.
Belmont owned the advantage in the opening 20 minutes, holding a 4-0 edge in shots before UAB (5-1-2) made its adjustments. In a game dominated less by any one team as by the winds ahead of Hurricane Irma's landfall, the Blazers took time to find their offensive footing.
The final 25 minutes of the half saw UAB hold possession in Belmont's defensive zone and fire off its first shots. Two went wide, and three offsides calls erased further scoring opportunities.
Though the teams went to halftime tied 0-0, it didn't take the Blazers long to capitalize once play resumed. In the 52nd minute, UAB's Megan Hudgens scored on a ball played out to the left side by teammate Amy Brewer. It was the home team's first shot on goal for the game.
Perhaps reinvigorated by the sudden spat of adversity, Mendiola and Belmont answered almost immediately. After BU goalkeeper Lily Herman (Springboro, Ohio) made her first of four saves for the match, this time blocking another Hudgens offering, the Bruins played the ball back the other direction. Mendiola dribbled in from the left, cut back and blasted a shot into the far side of the net.
The goal marked her second in as many games -- she beat the buzzer against UIC on Friday -- and fourth on the year. She was tied for the team lead in goals with Halle Krebs (Loveland, Ohio) entering Sunday's action.
The Bruins held a 12-7 advantage in shots at the end of regulation and headed to their first overtime of the season. A Blazers' surge in the first 10-minute OT period nearly ended the match there though. They got off three shots, one of which Herman had to block to continue the action.
Herman made another day-saving stop in double overtime, diving to her left to stop a header with about six minutes to play. Belmont couldn't muster a shot in the second OT period in settling for the draw.
With their 13-11 advantage in total shots, Belmont has now outshot every opponent but one so far this year.
UP NEXT
Belmont opens its OVC slate at SIU Edwardsville on Friday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
