Women's Soccer Heads to Illinois State for Sunday Matchup

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Belmont University Women's Soccer hits the road to face second Illinois team of the week the Redbirds of Illinois State.
 
Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN3.
 
What's Bruin

• Belmont holds a 3-2-5 record on the season while 1-1-2 in in Missouri Valley Conference play
• After a defensive battle at home the Bruins tied UIC 0-0
•  Belmont tallied a five-game unbeaten streak earlier in the season
• The Bruins fell 2-0 against Southern Illinois on Sunday, September 25 to record their first conference loss of the season
• Belmont defeated Murray State 3-1 Thursday, September 22
• The Bruins came back to score three times over the Racers, Addy Pitts evened the match with her first career goal
• Maci Pekmezian recorded the game winning goal while Anna Sweeney added the insurance
• Belmont tied Indiana State 0-0 in first conference matchup on September 16
• Sarah Doyle was named MVC Goal Keeper of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday, September 20

Quick Kicks

• The Bruins head the MVC in two goal keeper categories, save percentage (.898), and saves per game (5.30)
• Belmont's save percentage is seventh in the nation
• Pekmezian leads the conference in game winning goals with 2
• Doyle leads the MVC in goals against average (.616), save percentage (.889), total saves (56), and shutouts
• Belmont is tied for fourth in MVC standings
• Missouri State took the top spot over Valparaiso this week

Bruin Numbers

• Anna Sweeney leads the Bruins in goals with three while Pekmezian has two
• Leah Firsdon, Shae Doherty, and Addy Pitts each have a goal to their name
• Claire Fallon tops the Bruins with 872 minutes
• Pekmezian heads the Bruins in shots with 13

Scouting Report

• The Bruins have not competed against the Redbirds since 2000
• Illinois State is 2-10 on the season while 0-4 in conference
• The Redbirds most recently fell to Drake 2-0
• Allison Bird has 3 of the Redbird's 11 goals on the season
• Audrey Brown records 50 saves for Illinois State 

New Era

• Belmont is entering their first year in the MVC after over a decade in the Ohio Valley Conference
• Belmont joins UIC and Murray State as MVC newcomers. 
• The Bruins have been voted sixth in the MVC preseason poll, receiving one first place vote and 67 voting points from the league coaches
• Valparaiso was picked as the preseason favorite
• Belmont will compete against Indiana State, Murray State, Southern Illinois, UIC, Illinois State, Missouri State, Valparaiso, Evansville, Drake, and Northern Iowa in the MVC