Battle of the Boulevard Versus Nationally-Ranked Lipscomb on Tap for Men’s Soccer

 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following its first road test of the season, the Belmont University men's soccer team returns to the friendly confines of E.S. Rose Park Tuesday night for a showdown with top-25 ranked Lipscomb in the 25th edition of the Battle of the Boulevard. Kickoff of the Music City rivalry match is set for 6:30 p.m.
 
The midweek contest following Labor Day will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Reily Chestnut on the call and Hanley Riggs reporting from the sideline. Live statistics of the match will be available on BelmontBruins.com.
 
What's Bruin

• The Bruins are looking to rebound from their first setback of 2022, a three-goal affair at sixth-ranked Kentucky Friday night in the Bluegrass State.
• Tuesday's match will be the second straight for Belmont against a nationally-ranked opponent.
• Lipscomb will be the first nationally-ranked opponent to visit Rose Park since last season's home finale versus then 16th-ranked UNC Greensboro (Oct. 16, 2021). The Bruins came away with a gritty 2-1 triumph in that matchup.
• Belmont is 1-0-1 at home this season following a 2-0 season opening win over Southern Indiana (Aug. 25) and a 1-1 tie against Purdue University Fort Wayne (Aug. 28). Senior forward Liam O'Brien and junior defender Case Cox both found the back of the net at Rose Park in the Bruins' first two home matches, including a brace by O'Brien in the season opener.
• Holding a 12-match home unbeaten streak dating back to March 30, 2021, Belmont has outscored its opponents 19-4 at Rose Park during that span. The Bruins have gotten a result in 14 of their last 16 home matches and are 19-7-4 at Rose Park since the start of the 2018 season.
• Belmont owns five wins over nationally-ranked opponents in program history, two of which came last fall against the Spartans of UNC Greensboro – at No. 25 UNCG (2-1) on Nov. 7, 2021; versus No. 16 UNCG (2-1) on Oct. 16, 2021; at No. 25 Furman (3-1) on April 9, 2021; versus No. 22 ETSU (3-1) on Sept. 29, 2011; at No. 16 Furman (2-1, OT) on Nov. 2, 2007.
• Last season, the Bruins picked up their first tie against a nationally-ranked adversary when they played then 22nd-ranked Lipscomb to a 1-1 draw down the road on Belmont Boulevard.
• The Bisons hold a slight 11-10-3 lead in the all-time series, but Lipscomb has won just two of the last five meetings. Both of the last two Battle of the Boulevard matches have gone into double overtime with Belmont capturing a thrilling 2-1 victory over the visiting Bisons during the unique 2020-21 season (March 2, 2021).
• On Sept. 14 last year, the Bruins competed against host Lipscomb in a grueling 110-minute battle that ended even. Playing its second consecutive double overtime match, Belmont took a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when Niccolo Dagnoni was fouled inside the box and converted the penalty kick. The Bisons evened up the match in the 61st minute.
• In the 23rd Battle of the Boulevard during the late winter of 2021, Lipscomb's last visit to Rose Park, O'Brien came up with his first career brace when he scored the golden goal in the 105th minute to break a 1-1 tie. O'Brien had given the Bruins a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the match and the Bisons sent the match into extra time with an 89th-minute goal.
• Fourth-year head coach David Costa is 1-0-1 versus Lipscomb with the Bisons' last win in the Battle of the Boulevard coming in the 2018 season opener (2-0) at the other end of the boulevard.
• Lipscomb has not defeated Belmont at Rose Park since the 2013 season opener (3-1).

About the Bisons

• The defending ASUN Conference regular season and tournament champion Bisons are off to a 3-0-0 start after making their third NCAA Championship appearance in the last five seasons.
• Lipscomb has outscored its first three opponents 10-3, including a 6-2 season opening win over Purdue Fort Wayne. The Bisons already own a top-10 victory after defeating then 10th-ranked Saint Louis 2-1 on the road on Sunday, Aug. 28. Saturday night, Lipscomb picked up its second road win of the season with a 2-0 triumph at Florida Atlantic University.
• The Bisons feature preseason Hermann Trophy Award Watch List member Noah Gulden. The Hermann Trophy, presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club, is the nation's highest individual honor recognizing the top player in the nation. A graduate defender, Noah Gulden is the preseason ASUN Defensive Player of the Year after garnering the recognition last season.
• Lipscomb also boasts the preseason ASUN Player of the Year Tyrese Spicer and preseason ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year Michael Sibley. Junior forward Spicer was the 2021 ASUN Championship MVP and was an All-ASUN First Team pick last season.
• With a plethora of talent back from last year, the Bisons have three other preseason All-ASUN selections in graduate defender Scott Gulden, the twin brother of Noah Gulden, junior midfielder Luca Naumann and senior midfielder/forward Hayes Wood. Scott Gulden was a 2021 All-ASUN First Team performer, while both Naumann and Wood earned All-ASUN Second Team honors. Wood also shared 2021 ASUN Championship MVP accolades with Spicer.
• Through its first three matches, Lipscomb has gotten a team-best four goals from senior forward Jelldrik Dallmann. The Niagara University transfer has scored in each of his first three matches as a Bison and also has an assist. Dallmann led the nation last season in goals per match (1.00) and was among national leaders in total goals (14).
• After going 12-4-2 overall and 6-2 in conference play last fall, the Bisons were chosen to repeat as ASUN champions. Lipscomb earned all eight possible first-place votes in the league's preseason poll.

Up Next
The Bruins continue non-conference action this weekend when they head to Big South Conference member UNC Asheville Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. CT tilt in North Carolina. Next Saturday, Sept. 17, Belmont begins Missouri Valley Conference play by hosting Bradley.
 
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.