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Belmont Athletics
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Belmont BEL (2-1-1, 0-0-0)
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Winner Fla. Atlantic FAU (1-1-1, 0-0-0)
Belmont BEL
(2-1-1, 0-0-0)
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Final
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Fla. Atlantic FAU
(1-1-1, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Belmont BEL 0 1 1
Fla. Atlantic FAU 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men's Soccer Tripped Up by FAU Sunday Evening in the Sunshine State

Host Owls Score Two Second-Half Goals to Top Bruins, 3-1

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Following a 30-minute delayed start due to thunderstorms, the Belmont University men's soccer team competed in its first match in the state of Florida since 2013 Sunday evening at Florida Atlantic University. In sultry conditions, the Bruins (2-1-1) were defeated 3-1 by the host Owls (1-1-1) after FAU scored two goals in the final 25 minutes.
 
Junior forward Brock Kiper evened the match at a goal apiece early in the second half, but the Owls' Mamadou Diarra scored what would be the game winner in the 67th minute. FAU then put the match out of reach in the closing 30 seconds.
 
Belmont had plenty of chances to score more than once but connected on only one of four shots on target. Conversely, the Owls placed three of their four shots on goal in the back of the net.
 
The Bruins recorded 12 total shots, including eight in the second half, and created eight corner kicks, including six second-half corners.
 
Seven of FAU's 11 shots came in the opening half and Belmont didn't concede a corner kick in the second half after the Owls had three first-half corners.
 
Redshirt junior forward Jimiyu Mark thought he had a sure goal in the 27th minute but his strike sailed just high and right of the frame. Moments later, FAU's Noah Kvifte gave the Owls a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute on a boot from just inside the 18-yard box.
 
Starting the second half determined, the Bruins dominated possession the first five minutes before Kiper's equalizer. Early in the 53rd minute, senior captain midfielder AJ Chastonay delivered the ball to sophomore midfielder Simeon Betapudi on the right side of the box. In stride, Betapudi placed a perfect cross on the wet grass to Kiper in front of the six-yard box. Tying things up, Kiper punched it in through the keeper's legs for his second goal of the young season. After nearly 15 minutes of tied action, FAU's Diarra headed it in on a diving connection from Kasper Heerfordt.
 
Both junior midfielder Oscar Hough in the 75th minute and Kiper in the 87th had good looks to knot the score up once more. Following consecutive corners, senior midfielder Eric Stiles launched an open deep shot well high of the crossbar.
 
With 30 seconds to go the Owls' Diarra found an open Aboubacar Traore, who worked the ball into the box and struck FAU's third goal.
 
Chastonay had one last attempt on a free kick just outside the penalty area with eight seconds remaining, but his shot was blocked. Of Note
  • The match was Belmont's first in the Sunshine State since a 1-0 win at Jacksonville University on Sept. 28, 2013.
  • The Bruins had allowed only four combined shots on target in their first three matches of the season.
  • Betapudi earned his first career assist.
  • Kiper has eight goals over the last two seasons.
Up Next
Belmont continues its strenuous three-match road stretch next Saturday in the Palmetto State against South Carolina. Kickoff between the Bruins and the Gamecocks at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont men's soccer on social media – @BelmontMSoccer on X, formerly 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.
 
#ItsBruinTime
 
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