Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Senior forward Belicia Mendiola (McKinney, Texas) proved to be the difference maker for Belmont women's soccer Friday night, notching both goals in the Bruins 2-0 victory over Eastern Illinois at E.S. Rose Park.
In her second multi-goal match of the season, Mendiola displayed her versatility in the attacking third after making a pair of great plays to help Belmont (6-3-1, 2-1-0) improve its record to 6-1 at home this season. In addition to Mendiola's offensive contributions, the squad held strong defensively as well as they tallied their third shutout of the season.
The Bruins got out to a hot start, firing off five shots before the Panthers (5-5-1, 0-2-0) could even get one off. Belmont came close a couple times, but it wasn't until the 30th minute that Mendiola would find the back of the net and send in what would be the game-winning goal. The veteran connected on a perfectly placed ball from senior defender Addison Cartwright (Alton, Ill.) who was sitting on the midfield line and served a ball in striking distance for Mendiola to head in her fifth goal of the season. The assist marked the first of the senior's career and Belmont's 13th of the season.
The tempo continued to be controlled by Belmont for the remainder of the half as they only allowed Eastern Illinois to get off two shots. While the Panthers struggled to get their offense going, the Bruins were only heating up as they launched 12 of their 27 shots in the opening 45 minutes. They forced EIU keeper Maddie Lyon to make five saves including a bullet offered by senior midfielder Tara Austin (Beaumont, Texas) in the 10th minute.
BU showed no signs of letting up coming out of the locker room as they put back-to-back shots on frame right away, including one from Emily Whitcomb (Elmhurst, Ill.) that found favor with the crossbar and ricocheted away from the goal.
While goalkeeper Lily Herman (Springboro, Ohio) was only called on to make one save in the match, she helped the defense prevent EIU from getting any looks. In the 63rd minute she elevated on a Panther corner to punch the ball away from the goal and keep Eastern Illinois from sending in the equalizer. Herman moves to 4-2-1 on the season when protecting Belmont's goal.
During the waning minutes of the match Mendiola used a pass from another senior defender, Heather Ferrari (Duluth, Ga.), to make a sliding play in the 8-yard box and lightly tap the ball past Eastern Illinois' second half keeper Sara Teteak to put BU up, 2-0. The squad would lead the final shot count, 27-5, and land a season-best 10 on frame.
UP NEXT
Belmont hosts Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State next weekend starting on Friday, Sept. 29. Both matches will be played at E.S. Rose park.
