SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Despite keeping the No. 9 team in the nation out of the net for 70 minutes, the Belmont University men's soccer team was handed a 1-0 loss in Missouri Valley Conference play Friday night on the road. The host Bears (5-0-1, 2-0-0 MVC) scored off a set piece in the 71st minute via the foot of forward James Jennings and the lone goal would be the difference.
A shot by sophomore forward
Brock Kiper just into the 77th minute was saved by Missouri State's Harry Townsend and the Bruins (3-3-2, 0-2-0 MVC) were unable to convert any of their final chances.
Outshot 13-5 on the night, Belmont earned six corner kicks but couldn't find the space between the pipes. Four of the Bruins' five shots were on target, including all three in the second half.
Junior midfielder
Rubyn Singh Gill nearly put the visitors up 1-0 early in the second half with a 49th-minute rocket down the center following a corner from graduate midfielder
Jansen Wilson.
It took Belmont just over two minutes on the pitch before earning the Bruins their first corner. Senior midfielder
AJ Chastonay had a great look in the 13th minute, but his strike was tapped out wide by the Bears' keeper, Townsend.
Junior goalkeeper
Grant Calvert tied his career high with six saves, including two remarkable stops and three saves in the closing nine minutes of the first half.
In the 71st minute following a Belmont foul on the high right flank, Missouri State's Tyler Caton launched a free kick to the opposite corner of the six-yard box where midfielder Jack Denton headed a cross to Jennings. A left-footed tap-in by Jennings stood for the remainder of the match.
Seven of the Bears' 13 shots were on target, including four of their seven threats in the first half.
Missouri State was carded twice in the last 4:10 of play.
Of Note
- The Bruins have been shut out in back-to-back matches for the first time since Oct. 9-15, 2022, when Belmont was defeated 2-0 at both No. 19 Missouri State and at Drake.
- The Bruins begin conference play 0-2 for the first time since 2016 when Belmont started 0-3 in the Horizon League.
- The Bears of Missouri State improve to 6-2-2 all-time versus the Bruins.
- Sophomore defender
Riley Clothier, a returning MVC All-Freshman Team selection, made his first start of the season.
Up Next
Belmont steps out of Valley play Tuesday afternoon for a matinee road tilt at Presbyterian College out of the Big South Conference. Kickoff from Martin Stadium in Clinton, South Carolina, is slated for 3 p.m. CT.
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@BelmontMSoccer on Twitter,
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