Belmont (1-2-0) vs. SIUE (1-1-1) | Monday, Sept. 5 | 6:30 p.m.
Nashville, Tennessee | E.S. Rose Park
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Belmont Match Notes | SIUE Match Notes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After notching a mark in the win column for the first time of the season this past week, the Belmont University men's soccer team returns to match action at E.S. Rose Park on Labor Day. The Bruins (1-2-0) go for their second-straight victory when they host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in non-conference play Monday at 6:30 p.m.
The home matchup with the visiting Cougars (1-1-1) will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Wes Boling providing play-by-play of the contest and Hanley Riggs reporting from the sideline. Live statistics of the tilt will be available on BelmontBruins.com.
What's Bruin
- Now 10-7-3 at Rose Park since the start of the 2018 season, Belmont has won four of its last six home matches.
- Continuing their three-match homestand, the Bruins' next four games are in the Music City as Belmont wraps up its three-match homestay Friday versus MAC (Mid-American Conference) member Georgia State before taking on local rival Lipscomb next Tuesday, Sept. 14 at the other end of the boulevard. The Bruins open Southern Conference play against ETSU at Rose Park on Saturday, Sept. 18.
- Belmont has won back-to-back matches at Rose Park each of the last three seasons, defeating Lipscomb (2-1, 2OT) and VMI (5-0) on consecutive home outings during the unique 2020-21 spring season.
- Getting back to their winning ways after a pair of grueling road affairs, the Bruins were triumphant in their home opener. A 73rd-minute strike off the right foot of sophomore midfielder Michael Saunders and superb defensive play led to a 1-0 Belmont win over visiting UNC Asheville Thursday night.
- The Bruins outplayed the Bulldogs in seemingly every facet of the game, posting a season-high 11 shots and earning a season-best seven corner kicks. In fact, UNC Asheville didn't have a shot on goal until the 84th minute of the match as Belmont had an answer for every visitor attack.
- Sophomore forward Esteban Leiva led the Bruins with three shots and Saunders had two shots on target, his second from just inside the penalty box representing the game-winning goal and just the second score of his young career.
- Senior forward Niccolo Dagnoni provided the assist on Saunders' goal Thursday night with a go-ahead pass. His 16th career assist, Dagnoni is now tied for second place in program history in assists with Paulo Boero (1992-95). He also sits in sixth place all-time in career points with 42.
- Monday evening will be the fifth all-time meeting on the soccer pitch between the two schools with SIUE holding a 3-1 advantage in the series.
- Belmont last faced the Cougars on Sept. 29, 2018, in Edwardsville, Illinois, a 2-0 win for SIUE. The Bruins are 1-0 versus the Cougars in their lone trip to Nashville with Belmont claiming a 3-1 victory on Nov. 8, 2008.
- SIUE is the second Missouri Valley Conference opponent the Bruins have had a date with this season. Belmont began its 2021 fall campaign at now eighth-ranked Missouri State.
About the Cougars
- Through its first three games, SIUE has taken two to extra time with overtime outings at the Big Ten Conference's Wisconsin and versus Air Force. The Cougars played the Badgers to a 1-1 draw following 20 minutes of extra time in their season opener on Aug. 26 before dropping a 4-3 decision at Marquette (Aug. 29).
- This past Friday in SIUE's home opener, the Cougars found their way back from a 2-0 first-half deficit against Air Force. After evening up the match in the 50th minute with a goal from defender Max Broughton, freshman forward Alex Segura scored his second goal of the night with just over two minutes remaining in overtime. His golden goal securing the 3-2 win for SIUE's first of the fall.
- The Cougars went 2-0 in preseason play, earning a 3-1 triumph at Memphis on Aug. 15 and topping IUPUI 2-0 at home. The Bruins also took on the Tigers in west Tennessee in exhibition play, ending in a 2-2 tie on Aug. 20. Belmont will face IUPUI at Rose Park later this season on Oct. 5.
- Picked to finish fourth in the MVC according to the league's preseason poll, SIUE returns to the conference following a four-year stay in the MAC.
- Going 5-5 overall during the spring, the Cougars posted a 2-5 record against MAC opposition.
- Sophomore midfielder Oskar Lenz was tabbed preseason All-MVC First Team.
- Redshirt freshman Broughton has scored a goal in all three of SIUE's games thus far.
Up Next
The Bruins conclude their three-game homestand Friday evening with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff against Georgia State.
