Kaitlyn Elliott Lifts #4 Belmont Past #5 Indiana State in MVC Championship Quarterfinal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - The No. 4 Belmont Bruins (9-9-2, 5-4-1 MVC) faced the No. 5 Indiana State Sycamores (10-6-5, 4-3-3 MVC) in a quarterfinal match of the 2024 MVC Women's Soccer Championship on Sunday. In a competitive and gritty win-or-go-home match, both the Bruins and Sycamores had multiple quality scoring chances and saw their goalkeeper make game-saving saves. The Bruins harnessed the energy of the home-field advantage and scored the match's lone goal in the second half. Freshman Kaitlyn Elliott's 64^th-minute advanced Belmont to the semifinal with a 1-0 victory over Indiana State.
 
Scoring Action
 
An eventful first half set the tone for the final 45 minutes of play. Despite an early offensive push from Indiana State, Belmont regained control of the match with quick counterattacks. It was only a matter of time before one team scored. Belmont was the beneficiary in this case with the help of three freshmen.
 
Teagan Downs led Reagan Ross into the 18-yard box on a pass that split two Sycamore defenders. Ross collected the ball and slipped a cross to Kaitlyn Elliott on the opposite side of the six-yard box. A one-touch past a diving Maddie Alexander resulted in celebration and Belmont taking a 1-0 lead.   
 
 Head Coach Kelsey Cameron
 
 Kaitlyn Elliott
 
 Sydney Jones
 
 What's Bruin

• Elliott's goal was her third of the season. Ross and Downs assisted on the goal. The assist was the first of Ross' career and the second for Downs.
• Sydney Jones made six saves and recorded her seventh clean sheet of the season.
• Abbigail Legg led the Bruins with three shots, with one on goal.
• Belmont outshot Indiana State 13-11 and placed seven shots on goal.
• The win marks the program's first MVC tournament win since joining the conference in 2022.
• Sunday was Belmont's first postseason win since 2019. Belmont was later crowned the 2019 OVC Tournament Champion.   

Up Next
Belmont will face No. 1 Missouri State on Nov. 7 in the  2024 MVC Women's Soccer Championship semifinal. The semifinals and championship match will be played at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium in Springfield, Mo. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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