Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Thanks to a game-winning goal from senior AB Hawkins, the Belmont women's soccer team danced its way to a 1-0 double overtime victory over Eastern Illinois on Sunday at Rose Park.
Hawkins' goal was the third of her career, with her score marking the first Belmont game-winning goal in overtime since Emily Nguyen's score to defeat SEMO on Oct. 18, 2018.
"I was honestly speechless," Hawkins said. "I keep saying it's the best day of my life. It's really exciting for all of us because we worked so hard and we deserve a moment like this."
With Belmont looking to bounce back after a last-second loss to Morehead State, the Bruins immediately fired on all cylinders. Belmont became the offensive aggressor in the opening 20 minutes, creating five early shot opportunities.
Despite not getting the go-ahead goal in the first half, Belmont continued to put its foot on the gas pedal in the second half. Belmont blasted through the EIU defenders for a one-on-one opportunity in the 81st minute, but the shot just missed wide left to keep the match knotted 0-0.
Belmont collected a season-high 26 shots on the afternoon, marking the most shots accumulated by the Bruins since Sept. 7, 2018 against UAB.
"We just reminded them in pregame that we needed to look to play some more dangerous final balls," head coach Heather Henson said. "With a final pass, a final cross or a final shot, we just reminded them that we haven't done that as much in the past game or so and we needed to bring that back out. The girls trusted the process and they listened to the game plan."
Play only intensified as the match reached the first overtime, with both teams stepping up their defense. The lone shot of the first overtime once again came at the hands of Belmont, missing just wide in another one-on-one opportunity.
With 10 minutes left to snatch their first win in conference play, the Bruins set up Julie Garst for two clean shot opportunities. Garst shot twice with ease, but both hit the crossbar of the goal and resulted in a corner kick opportunity.
Despite the first corner kick turning into three shot opportunities with just over five minutes left, the Bruins were determined to not have the match end in a tie.
"Since we haven't had any points (in the OVC standings), we wanted to come out of this weekend with at least three points," Hawkins said. "Especially after Friday night, we knew we needed revenge on some team."
With their last corner kick of the afternoon, Clements' kick soared in the air, allowing Hawkins to squeeze the header in the right corner of the goal and give the Bruins their first win in OVC play. The goal was Hawkins' first since Oct. 16, 2016, with Clements registering her first career assist.
"I knew the time was counting down, so I was trying to rush a little bit," Clements said. "I wanted to hit it right in between the six where we had numbers so that one of our girls would get a head on it. AB was in the perfect spot."
Belmont continues its home stretch on Friday, facing Tennessee Tech at 6:30 p.m. at Rose Park.
