Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont University women's soccer team fell short to the defending Ohio Valley Conference Regular Season champions SEMO 1-0 on Tuesday night at Rose Park.
Belmont snagged four shots to go with seven corner kicks, with SEMO coming up with the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Doyle finished the game with four saves.
"We did a very good job of building our attack as a unit," head coach Heather Henson said. "I thought we did a good job of connecting passes, building our attack and stringing passes together that gave us offensive opportunities."
The Bruins spent the first half controlling the possession and setting up their attack, only allowing one shot from SEMO on the defensive side of the ball. By not allowing a first half goal in three consecutive games this season, Belmont has had at least one streak of three consecutive games where they did not allow a first half goal in each season in the last decade.
Emphasizing the importance of winning the 50-50 ball battles with the opposition, the Bruins were able to go into the locker room with the momentum and control of the match.
"You win the 50-50 balls, you gain possession and then you build your attack," Henson said. "That's soccer 101. I was proud of the team's diligence to learn from the last game and bringing that physical presence to tonight's game to win the 50-50 balls."
Belmont almost got the go-ahead goal in the 50th minute, with the shot just hitting the crossbar and bouncing out of the goal to keep the match scoreless. SEMO would collect its best opportunity to score its first goal two minutes later, drawing a foul inside the penalty area to set up a penalty kick.
Being the first penalty kick Belmont had seen since Nov. 8, 2019, Doyle prevented the penalty kick from reaching the back of the net. SEMO, however, came up with the rebound and scored a goal with 38 minutes to play in regulation.
The Bruins snagged multiple corner kicks in the closing minutes, but the SEMO defense prevented any shot opportunity. Belmont found an opening for a shot in the final minute, but the ball went out high to prevent the tying goal from going in.
"I thought we did a great job building, adjusting and growing from last Friday's game to this game," Henson said. "I told them that's the trajectory. If we continue to make those improvements, if we get one percent better, look at what Friday's going to be like. We just need to play our game and build our attack as a unit."
Belmont (1-2) goes back on the road on Friday, taking on Murray State at 1 p.m. The Racers are currently tied for first in the OVC with a 3-0 start, with Friday's match also setting up a rematch of the 2019 OVC Semifinals.
