Box Score MOREHEAD, Ky.- After fighting through a scoreless battle for 89 minutes, the Belmont women's soccer team lost a heartbreaker in the closing seconds 1-0 to Morehead State on Friday night.
Morehead State capitalized off its sixth corner kick of the night, with Nicole Palmer scoring the game winning goal with three seconds left in regulation.
The Bruins scrapped for each possession in the opening minutes, with Belmont not allowing a shot attempt until the 18th minute. After Belmont prevented two Morehead State shot attempts from converting following a free kick and a corner kick, senior goalkeeper Lily Herman collected a save after an Eagles' corner kick opportunity in the 35th minute.
Belmont's relentless defense on the ball continued to impact Morehead State's offense, with Herman coming up with another critical save five minutes into the second half. The Bruins had a one-on-one offensive opportunity in the box, but Morehead State goalkeeper Kayla Landman lunged for the ball and picked it up to prevent a shot.
Despite Morehead State's offense heating up, Belmont's defense kept the pressure on. Morehead State came up with two shots in the 65th minute, with Herman's sixth save of the match preventing a score.
The Eagles received another chance off a corner kick, but the Bruins knocked the ball away to prevent the go-ahead score in the 75th minute. After Belmont collected its lone corner kick of the night with five minutes to play in regulation, the Bruins' defense continued to fight to force overtime.
Morehead State's Katie Kiolbassa shot a ball off a free kick just inside the crossbar of the goal with one minute to play, but Herman leaped into the air and knocked the ball out of play with one hand. The Eagles registered their fifth corner kick of the match with 30 seconds to play, resulting in a shot on goal attempt. Herman registered her eighth save of the evening, but Morehead State had one final corner kick to make a play.
As time winded down, Morehead State's Gabby Nastasi quickly gained the possession and knocked it in the net to give the Eagles the lead with three seconds to play.
Herman's eight saves marked the fourth time in the last five games where she has collected six or more saves. Morehead State's victory over the Bruins marks the first time Belmont has lost to the Eagles since 2015.
Belmont returns home to Rose Park on Sunday for the first of three consecutive matches at home, facing Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m.
