Box Score VALPARAISO, Ind. – Belmont women's soccer suffered its second consecutive loss after falling to Valparaiso, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Brown Field.
The Bruins (3-2-0) got to work early in their first road test of the year, registering six shots in the opening 15 minutes of the match. Senior forward Belicia Mendiola (McKinney, Texas) was the primary offensive creator, firing off four and landing a pair on frame to get things going. The veteran's two shots on goal came from more than 25 yards out, putting the Valpo keeper, Kezia Gesell, to work.
Continuing to control the pace of the game for much of the first stanza, Belmont out-shot Valparaiso (4-2-0), 14-8, getting double-digit looks in the opening 45 minutes for the fourth time this season. Despite orchestrating more scoring opportunities, the Bruins struggled to convert, while the Crusaders took advantage of the few chances they saw. Valpo carried a 1-0 advantage into the half after Syndey Griffin connected on a header in the 41st minute, the goal that would be the difference maker.
Still in search of the equalizer, Mendiola and sophomore Niki Clements (Perkasie, Pa.) displayed their talent in the start of the second stanza. Mendiola launched the squad's first shot on frame in the 52nd minute after maneuvering herself through some Crusader traffic and sending a line drive at Gesell who made her eighth save of the afternoon. Shortly after that, Clements beat the Valpo defense and released a shot that soared just right of the goal to keep Belmont scoreless. The Bruins would only tally two more shots the rest of the afternoon.
Valparaiso found a way to slow down Belmont's offense considerably in the second frame, holding the Bruins to just four shots. While the Bruins continued to shut down the Crusaders attack, their lone goal in the 41st minute proved to be all they needed.
Aside from Mendiola's four shots on goal, five separate Bruins found the frame once. Rookie Abby Hunt (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada) protected BU's goal for the duration of the match, recording a save and allowing the sole goal to move her record to 2-1 on the season.
UP NEXT
Belmont returns home to take on UIC on Friday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. inside E.S. Rose Park.
