Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Junior forward Liam O'Brien's golden goal in the 105th minute lifted Belmont men's soccer over the Lipscomb Bisons, 2-1, in the Battle of the Boulevard Tuesday evening at E.S. Rose Park.
O'Brien finished the match with a brace, as he also found the back of the net in the sixth minute of the double-overtime contest. Freshman midfielder Michael Saunders, senior midfielder Esteban Lestido and junior forward Niccolo Dagnoni each tabbed an assist on the night.
With the win, the Bruins (2-0-1) remain unbeaten to start the spring 2021 season and logged their second straight home win over Lipscomb.
The Bisons (3-2, 0-1 ASUN) were led by junior defender Noah Gulden, who notched an 89th minute goal to send the match to extra time.
Just six minutes into the start of the match, O'Brien tallied a go-ahead volley goal for Belmont on assists from Lestido and Saunders. The Bruins kept up the offensive pressure, as senior midfielder Jack Shaw and Dagnoni each fired shots in the 13th and 14th minutes.
Lipscomb's first shot of the opening half missed wide in the 19th minute, while Belmont held its cross-town foe off until the end of the first 45 minutes. Junior midfielder Kyle Barks notched a shot in the 41st minute, as the Bisons recorded a shot in the 44th minute, both of which fell off frame.
The Bruins took a 1-0 advantage after one half of action, as it led Lipscomb in total shots by a 4-2 margin and racked up two shots on target. Additionally, junior goalkeeper Cameron Petty was not forced to make a save in the first half.
The Bisons became the aggressors early in the second half, as Petty saved consecutive shots on target from Lipscomb between the 50th and 52nd minute. Following almost 15 minutes of scoreless action, freshman midfielder Eric Stiles nearly netted his first career shot inside the box, but it fell wide.
Petty stretched out for an impressive save in the 84th minute to keep the lead, but the Bisons equalized just five minutes later in the 89th minute to force extra time. The first overtime featured no shots and one Belmont corner, as the match remained knotted up at 1-1 through 100 minutes.
O'Brien broke through five minutes into the second overtime on an assist Dagnoni to put the Bruins over Lipscomb at home, 2-1.
Overall, each team logged seven shots on the evening, while the Bisons led 4-3 in shots on target. Petty, the OVC Defensive Player of the Week, finished with three saves, as Lipscomb led by a 6-2 margin in corners.
A NOSE FOR THE NET: Junior forward Liam O'Brien has racked up three goals through three games this year, as he holds a shot on goal percentage of nearly 85 percent. O'Brien has netted three goals on just six shots so far this season.
STILL UNBEATEN: For the first time since 2017, Belmont is unbeaten through its first three matches of the season. In 2017, the Bruins drew with Memphis and Dayton and notched a 6-1 victory over Niagara.
UP NEXT: Belmont stays in Nashville for a road matchup at Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday, March 6. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Trevecca Soccer Complex.
