NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the second time under fourth-year head coach
David Costa, the Belmont University men's soccer team is off to a 1-0 start following a 2-0 victory over visiting Southern Indiana Thursday night at E.S. Rose Park. Senior forward
Liam O'Brien registered his fourth career brace and the Bruins refused to concede a goal in both team's season opener.
With the victory, Belmont extends its home win streak to 11.
A well-played ball from junior midfielder
Michael Saunders led to O'Brien's first goal of the match in 25th minute and junior defender
Case Cox had the assist on O'Brien's second score in the 60th minute. O'Brien needed only a chip-in for his first goal of the season with Saunders' pass, before finding the back of the net on a left-footed strike in the second half.
Graduate goalkeeper
Nate Logan made his first career start in front of the net and came away with his first clean sheet, making a trio of saves in the process.
The Bruins limited the visiting Screaming Eagles to five shots, three of which were on target, while tallying 12 of their own. Junior forward
Esteban Leiva accounted for five shots, two of which were on goal and one that collided with the right post.
Freshman defender
Riley Clothier and redshirt freshman defender
Dylan Steely both started in their first collegiate regular season match. Junior Saint Louis University transfer midfielder
Sam Rowan, senior Kentucky transfer midfielder
Jansen Wilson and junior Lake Erie College transfer forward
Ayden von Essen all made their Belmont regular season debuts.
Of Note
O'Brien has scored 19 goals in his five-year Bruin career, which gives him sole possession of third place on Belmont's all-time list. The Bruins have not lost a match at Rose Park since March 30, 2021. The shutout is Belmont's 10th since the start of last season. Of the Bruins' 11-straight home wins, eight have been shutouts. Belmont has outscored opponents 18-3 during its home win streak.
Up Next
The Bruins return to match action Sunday afternoon when they host Purdue University Fort Wayne for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Next Friday, Sept. 2, Belmont takes on nationally-ranked Kentucky in its first road test of the season.
Follow Belmont men's soccer on social media –
@BelmontMSoccer on Twitter,
@belmontmsoccer on Instagram and
Belmont University Men's Soccer on Facebook – 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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