Box Score SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Belmont men's soccer secured a 1-0 shutout victory in its Southern Conference opener against the Wofford Terriers Saturday morning at Snyder Field.
The Bruins (4-0-1, 1-0 SoCon) extended their unbeaten streak to five matches to begin the 2021 spring season and logged their third shutout of the year. Belmont was led by a 12th-minute goal from freshman midfielder AJ Chastonay, who was assisted by the junior forward duo of Ares Marlonsson and Niccolo Dagnoni.
Senior goalkeeper Drew Romig logged his second straight win and first shutout as a Bruin with two saves on eight shots faced from the Terriers (0-4, 0-1 SoCon). In total, Belmont finished with three shots and one shot on goal in its SoCon opener.
The Bruins were the aggressor early on, as their first shot of the day found the back of the net via Chastonay's right foot. Belmont followed up with another scoring chance from Dagnoni, who recorded a shot just outside of the box that flew over the crossbar.
Wofford answered with their first shot on target of the match, as Romig came up with his first save at Belmont in the 35th minute. The Terriers were also awarded a corner kick attempt in the 24th minute but were unable to convert.
At the half, the Bruins scored on one of their two first-half attempts, as Romig was only tested with one shot on target from Wofford through 45 minutes.
The Terriers opened the second half with two shots in the first 15 minutes of action, but neither was enough to finish on frame. Belmont tallied its first corner kick of the afternoon in the 59th minute but could not create a scoring chance.
Senior midfielder Esteban Lestido fired a shot that fell off target in the 62nd minute, as the Bruins would search to double their advantage. Wofford responded with a shot of its own just four minutes later off a corner kick.
The Terriers continued to apply pressure, as they logged two shots on target in the 67th and 72nd minutes but struggled to put any on frame. Wofford posted another shot just five minutes later, while Belmont continued to clasp on to a 1-0 lead.
To wrap up the match, the Terriers were awarded three corners, as Romig saved Wofford's final shot on target of the day to keep his clean sheet and help the Bruins to a 1-0 victory.
Overall, Belmont finished with three shots and one on frame, while the Terriers fired eight shots with just two on target. Wofford led the column in corner kicks by a 5-1 margin but were whistle for two offsides compared to none for the Bruins. With three goals in his first four matches, Chastonay is tied for the team lead in goals scored and is second in total points.
STRING OF SHUTOUTS: Belmont has recorded three shutouts through its first five appearances this year, as it only received four clean sheets in 19 matches last season.
HISTORIC START: The Bruins remain unbeaten through their first five matches of the spring season for their best start in program history. Belmont's five-game unbeaten streak also ties the program record for consecutive results, which was set in 2007.
MILESTONES FOR CHICCO: With two assists to start the year, junior forward Niccolo Dagnoni now has the third-most career assists in program history (14) and is tied for the seventh-most points of any Bruin ever (36).
UP NEXT: Belmont returns to action on Tuesday, March 16, as they host the VMI Keydets at E.S. Rose Park with kickoff set for 5 p.m.
