Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont men's soccer played to a scoreless draw with Central Arkansas Bears in its spring 2021 home opener Thursday night at E.S. Rose Park.
Junior goalkeeper Cameron Petty helped the Bruins (1-0-1) with five saves on 17 shots faced on the evening. Petty logged the fourth clean sheet of his career, as Belmont fired nine shots with five on target.
Just two minutes into the contest, junior forward Niccolo Dagnoni's first shot of the season forced the Bears goalkeeper to make a save. The Bruins kept early pressure on Central Arkansas (4-6-2, 3-3 Sun Belt), as junior forward Liam O'Brien nearly found the back of the net in the team's second shot on goal in the 15th minute.
After freshman midfielder Michael Saunders missed wide on his first shot attempt in the 24th minute, the Bears responded with pressure of their own to close out the first half. Central Arkansas went on to fire three shots, none of which tested Petty, as the match remained scoreless through 45 minutes of action.
At halftime, the Bears led Belmont in total shots by a 4-3 margin, but the Bruins still put one more shot on frame than their foes. Petty was forced to make just one save in the first half, as he blocked Central Arkansas' lone shot on target in the ninth minute.
Just seven minutes into the second half, O'Brien nearly netted a breakaway goal to put Belmont ahead, but the Bears keeper corralled the kick. Saunders found himself in scoring position once again in the 60th minute, but his shot on goal did not connect. Two minutes later, Petty stretched out to make a save and keep the game knotted up at nil.
Saunders intercepted a Central Arkansas pass in the 82nd minute to get an open shot opportunity, but his shot aimed for the bottom-left corner just slid wide of the post. Belmont found another chance in the 85th minute, but was unable to convert, as the two teams would head to overtime.
In the first overtime, Petty made a save on the Bears' first attempt in the 92nd minute, as senior midfielder Esteban Lestido's shot off a free kick flew over the crossbar two minutes later. Central Arkansas would go on to tally three more shots in the second overtime, only one of which warranted a save.
Petty's 110th minute save secured the point for the Bruins, who remain unbeaten through their first two matches of the spring season. In total, three Belmont players logged a full 110 minutes on the pitch: Junior defender John Bannec, senior midfielder Jack Shaw and freshman midfielder Eric Stiles.
CAM'S CLEAN SHEETS: Dating back to last season, junior goalkeeper Cameron Petty has tabbed four clean sheets in his last five appearances between the pipes for the Bruins.
TOUGH TO BREAK DOWN: Belmont's shutout of the Bears on Thursday marked the program's first time in the NCAA Era with consecutive shutouts to begin a season. The Bruins and Furman are the only two teams in the SoCon who have yet to allow a goal this year.
UP NEXT: Belmont takes on Lipscomb in the Battle of the Boulevard next Tuesday, as kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at E.S. Rose Park.
