Belmont (3-2-0) at No. 21 Lipscomb (4-0-1) | Tuesday, Sept. 14 | 7:00 p.m.
Nashville, Tennessee | Lipscomb Soccer Complex
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Belmont Match Notes | Lipscomb Match Notes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Fresh off a thrilling double overtime victory over Georgia State Friday, the Belmont University men's soccer team travels down Belmont Boulevard to take on nationally-ranked Lipscomb University for the 24th edition of the Battle of the Boulevard Tuesday night. Putting their three-match win streak on the line, the Bruins (3-2-0) will clash with the Bisons (4-0-1) at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
The crosstown matchup will be broadcast on YouTube with live statistics of the contest available on LipscombSports.com.
What's Bruin
- For the second consecutive season, Belmont has put together a three-match win streak and has a chance to tie the longest winning streak in program history Tuesday. The Bruins won four in order during the unique 2020-21 season this past spring, earning triumphs versus Lipscomb, at Trevecca Nazarene, at Wofford and against VMI (March 2-16).
- With senior forward Liam O'Brien's heroics, Belmont defeated the visiting Panthers of Georgia State 2-1 in high drama Friday night at E.S. Rose Park. O'Brien recorded his second career brace, his first coming last season to propel the Bruins past Lipscomb, and made a diving header for the golden goal in the 105th minute.
- A native of Freehold, New Jersey, O'Brien scored on a header off a free kick by senior forward Niccolo Dagnoni in the 23rd minute before the Panthers got an equalizing goal in the 53rd minute. Following a scoreless 10 minutes of extra time, a second overtime period was necessary. At nearly exactly the 105 minute mark of the match, sophomore midfielder Michael Saunders and senior midfielder/defender Jack Shaw teamed up to deliver a perfectly placed ball to O'Brien just inside the left portion of the goal area. From there, O'Brien made a fully extended diving header for the game-winning goal.
- The win secured an unblemished three-match homestand for Belmont. Georgia State entered the match having won three straight.
- Shaw and Saunders' assists on O'Brien's golden goal Friday night were their firsts of the season.
- With his first-half assist on O'Brian's go-ahead goal against the Panthers, Dagnoni moved to within seven career assists of tying all-time program leader Nico Olsak (2010-13). He has assisted on a goal in each of the Bruins' last three matches and owns 18 career assists, to go along with 44 career points. The Milan, Italy, native is now in sole possession of fifth place on Belmont's all-time points leaders list.
- Both senior goalkeeper Drew Romig (defensive) and Dagnoni (offensive) collected Southern Conference Player of the Week honors last week. It marked the first time the Bruins swept the league's weekly awards since joining the SoCon in 2018.
- Seeking its first road victory of the fall, both of Belmont's two setbacks this season came away from home against very formidable foes. The Bruins dropped the season opener 3-1 at then 12th-ranked Missouri State (Aug. 26) before being edged in a one-goal affair at now receiving-votes Central Arkansas (Aug. 29).
- Perfect thus far in September, Belmont plays in Nashville for nearly the entirety of the month with five of its seven games at Rose Park. After Tuesday at Lipscomb, the Bruins' only other road trip in September is to Furman on Saturday, Sept. 25.
- Tuesday night will mark the first-ever Battle of the Boulevard involving a top-25 team in men's soccer as the Bisons are currently ranked No. 21 in the nation. A new United Soccer Coaches Top 25 national poll is set to come out Tuesday prior to kickoff in the Music City.
- The 24th meeting between the two schools on the pitch, Lipscomb holds a slight 11-10-2 edge in the all-time series. The Bisons are 6-3-1 against Belmont two miles further south on the boulevard with the Bruins' last win at Lipscomb coming on Oct. 2, 2004 (3-0). Belmont also tied the Bisons in a scoreless outing at Lipscomb on Sept. 28, 2007.
- After a one-year hiatus the Battle of the Boulevard returned last spring. The Bruins prevailed in a 2-1 double overtime thriller at Rose Park on March 2 with O'Brien scoring in both the sixth minute and the 105th, his first golden goal of his collegiate career.
About the Bisons
- Lipscomb is off to its best start in program history and owns its highest-ever regular season ranking.
- Starting off the season on a high note, the Bisons defeated UCLA 2-1 and San Diego 4-0 the opening week in California. In its lone home match to date, Lipscomb topped Memphis 2-1. Belmont played the Tigers to a 2-2 draw in Memphis during the preseason. The Bisons also own a 4-1 road win at Evansville and are coming off a 3-3 draw at fellow SoCon member ETSU this past Friday night.
- Picked to finish third in a tie with Liberty in the ASUN Conference's preseason coaches poll, the Bisons received a pair of first-place votes after tying for sixth place in the then seven-team league last spring. Lipscomb went 6-5-2 overall and 1-2-1 in conference play during the 2020-21 season.
- In 2018, the Bisons made a historic run in the NCAA College Cup where they reached the round of 16 after claiming back-to-back ASUN Conference Championship titles.
- Senior defender Noah Gulden was tabbed preseason ASUN Defensive Player of the Year and preseason All-ASUN and has already claimed an ASUN Defensive Player of the Week plaudit (Aug. 31).
- Last week, both junior forward Killian Byrne and sophomore forward Tyrese Spicer picked up weekly recognition. Spicer was named ASUN Player of the Week after logging a hat trick in Lipscomb's win at Evansville. Byrne was placed on College Soccer News' National Team of the Week after scoring both goals, including the game winner, in the Bisons' victory over Memphis.
Up Next
The Bruins begin SoCon play Saturday when they host ETSU at Rose Park for a 6 p.m. tilt. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+
Follow Belmont men's soccer on social media - @BelmontMSoccer on Twitter and @belmontmsoccer 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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