Box Score Cookeville, Tenn.-- A picture perfect night for rescheduled matchup against Tennessee Tech University. Belmont University falls 2-1, their first loss in OVC play this season. The tying goal was scored by Senior Defender Rachel Vernon in the fifty fourth minute of the match.
The Golden Eagles scored first in tonight's match. Chloe Smith, this week's OVC offensive player of the week scored for the Golden Eagles in the twenty third minute of the match.
This was the first goal scored on the Bruins since September 16, 2021. Also, the first goal scored on Andrea Leitner since OVC play began. This lit a fire for the Bruins with their first experience being down a goal in OVC play this season. The Bruins fought hard to finish out the second half.
The Bruins thrived under the pressure of the second half making all of the right plays forward and staying strong defensively. The Bruins tied the match 1-1 in the fifty fourth minute of the match. The Bruins earned a free kick in the Golden Eagles half taken by Haley Poynter. The ball bobbled around in the eighteen between the Bruins offense and the Golden Eagle's defense. Rachel Vernon was able to get a foot on the ball keeping it from the defender with a man on Vernon hit it to her left foot finding the sweet spot of the bottom left corner of the net.
"I was proud of how the ladies came out in the second half and battled to change the game and win first and second balls." Head Coach Heather Henson on tonight's performance.
Along with goalie Leitner, Vernon competed in all ninety minutes of tonight's match. Vernon has been crucial to the success of the Bruins defensively as well as offensively as we saw tonight.
Tennessee Tech's Emily Carlevato countered, heading the ball into the net in the sixty-ninth minute, scoring off of a corner kick.
The Bruins fought hard until the very end but ultimately fell short against the Golden Eagles. Belmont recorded one goal, six shots, two saves, and three corner kicks against Tennessee Tech.
Heading into the fouth conference matchup on Thursday, "We stay focused on the process and know the conference season is a journey and take it one game at a time. I know we will make the adjustments we talked about and recover our bodies so we are ready for Thursday's game."
Next Up:
The Bruins return home for their fourth OVC matchup of the season against Morehead State hosting their Most Valuable Professor Night. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at E.S. Rose Park
Follow Belmont women's soccer on social media - @BelmontWSoccer on Twitter and @belmont.wsoccer on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
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