Men's Soccer Uses Two-Goal Second Half to Get Past Houston Christian

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In wet and rainy conditions, the Belmont University men's soccer team put together a gritty performance to earn a 2-1 neutral-site win over Houston Christian University Friday in Birmingham, Alabama. Remaining unbeaten in 2023, the Bruins (2-0-1) scored two second-half goals off assists from graduate midfielder Jansen Wilson and picked up their first victory of the season away from the Music City.
 
In its first game of two weekend matches as part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Soccer for the Cure Classic, Belmont got a 53rd-minute header from junior defender Alex Clayton and a game-winning 80th-minute strike from graduate forward Esteban Leiva.
 
Playing on Birmingham-Southern College's Goldfarb Field at Berylson Soccer Park, the Bruins were able to outduel the Huskies (1-2-0) in an active final 45 minutes. After both teams went scoreless in the first half, the squads combined for 17 shots in the second half.
 
Junior goalkeeper Grant Calvert made a remarkable save in the 26th minute on a one-on-one situation, but each side had only one look at goal at the break. Belmont posted four first-half shots and limited Houston Christian to only two.
 
Just into the 53rd minute on a corner piece, Wilson found Clayton on the far post for a header. His first career goal, Clayton's stab put the Bruins up 1-0.
 
However, moments later in the 56th minute the Huskies would respond. In heavy traffic inside the six-yard box, Houston Christian's Ryan Okerayi received a pass from Ricardo Garcia and punched in an equalizing goal.
 
Following five Belmont shots, including two on target, the Bruins landed the go-ahead goal off the foot of Leiva. A clearing attempt by a Husky defender was collected and drove in by Leiva in the 80th minute, giving Belmont the 2-1 advantage.
 
The Bruins' defense allowed only one more Houston Christian shot, which sailed high, in the closing 10 minutes.
 
Belmont finished with a season-high 13 shots, six of which were on goal. The Huskies tallied 10 with five on target.
 
The Bruins also earned a season-best eight corner kicks and both keepers made four saves.
 
Of Note
- Belmont also began its 2020 campaign, which was played in the spring of 2021, unbeaten through the first three matches.
- Friday's win is the Bruins' first over Houston Christian. The Huskies had won both of the previous two meetings.
- Wilson's two-assist match is the third of his career. He last recorded two assists in a match on Oct. 1, 2022, in Belmont's 3-3 home draw with the University of Illinois Chicago.
 
Up Next
The Bruins take on Chicago State Sunday at 11 a.m. at Birmingham-Southern's Goldfarb Field for their second match of UAB's Soccer for the Cure Classic. The Cougars (2-1-0) defeated tournament host UAB 3-2 Friday night.
 
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.