ASHEVILLE, N.C. – An 88th-minute game-winning goal from junior midfielder
AJ Chastonay lifted the Belmont University men's soccer team over UNC Asheville in a competitive 2-1 road match Saturday afternoon. Earning their first road victory of the season, the Bruins (2-1-2) battled extremely wet and rainy conditions at Greenwood Soccer Field in Asheville, North Carolina, overcoming a 1-0 halftime deficit with two second-half goals.
After the host Bulldogs (1-4-0) struck first with just under seven minutes to go in the opening half and continued to lead 1-0 with 20 minutes remaining, Belmont showed great resiliency and knotted up the score on senior defender
John Bannec's first career goal in the 71st minute.
Tallying 18 shots in the second half, six of which were on target, the Bruins controlled possession before breaking through in the final 20 minutes. Belmont posted season highs in shots (25), shots on goal (9) and corner kicks (13), while limiting UNC Asheville to 10 shots for the 90 minutes, only four of which were on target.
The Bulldogs' reserve midfielder Sam Presser connected on an unassisted strike in the 38th minute following a flurry of chances for the Bruins early. Belmont had three shots on goal in the first 24 minutes of the contest but were held to only two shots in the last 15 minutes of the first half.
Intentional in their attack to begin the second half, the Bruins secured two corners and a shot on target in the first six minutes. Owning the middle third of the field, Belmont nearly found the back of the net on multiple volleys inside the box. However, it was a free kick from senior midfielder
Jansen Wilson following a UNC Asheville foul that gave the Bruins their first score of the afternoon. Wilson laced a service toward the back post and an open Bannec punched in his inaugural goal with 19-and-a-half minutes left.
Determined to record three points for a win, Belmont created an opportunity in the closing minutes when sophomore midfielder
Alex Johnson drove down the left-field touchline and was fouled well outside the 18-yard box. Wilson once again fed in a fantastic ball into the box and sophomore defender
Dylan Steely went for the header before Chastonay got a hold of the rebound and sent the ball into the upper left of the goal with his right foot.
Chastonay's score left the Bulldogs with just two-and-a-half minutes to respond. Thanks to the Bruins' outstanding defense, UNC Asheville wasn't able to get a shot on a corner kick in the final 30 seconds.
Of Note
Saturday's draw is Belmont's second consecutive after playing 17th-ranked Lipscomb to a scoreless tie Tuesday night in the 25th Battle of the Boulevard. The Bruins improve to 5-2-1 all-time versus UNC Asheville. All but two of Belmont's eight matches with the Bulldogs have been decided by a single goal. Chastonay had seven game-winning goals a season ago, which were tied for the most in the nation. Johnson made his first career start.
Up Next
The Bruins have a week off from match action before beginning Missouri Valley Conference play next Saturday, Sept. 17 when Belmont hosts Bradley for a 6 p.m. kickoff in the Music City. The conference opener at E.S. Rose Park will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
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