BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – In less than ideal weather conditions Friday evening in northwest Ohio, the Belmont University men's soccer team battled receiving-votes Bowling Green State University in a single-goal match. Despite several strong chances to put the ball in the back of the net, the Bruins (2-4-3, 0-2-1 MVC) dropped a one-nil decision to the host Falcons (8-1-1, 3-0-0 MVC) in Missouri Valley Conference road action at Cochrane Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Unable to place a shot on target in the first half, Belmont had a flurry of great looks at goal in the final 30 minutes of the contest. After being outshot 10-2 in the opening 45 minutes, the Bruins put pressure on Bowling Green in the second half.
Belmont tallied six second-half shots, including three on target, and limited the Falcons to four shots. In fact, the Bruins didn't allow a Bowling Green shot on goal in the closing 25 minutes.
However, senior captain midfielder
AJ Chastonay was denied on two near equalizers in the last 10 minutes. In the 81st minute, Chastonay's strike was scooped up by Falcon goalkeeper Brendan Graves. Moments later with eight minutes remaining, a well-fed cross from junior midfielder
Lashawn Brown was launched off of Chastonay's foot toward the bottom-right portion of goal before being punched out.
After Bowling Green scored in the 39th minute, senior defender
Alex Clayton nearly evened the match with a 64th-minute header that barely went wide of the left post. It was Clayton's second header that nearly put Belmont on the board. In the 30th minute, Clayton headed a cross from junior midfielder
Brad Dildy high over the crossbar.
The Falcons' late first-half goal came on a difficult header from forward Trace Terry, one of the nation's top goal scorers, who found the right-side of the net from just outside the 18-yard box.
Graduate goalkeeper
Grant Calvert made a career-high tying seven saves, including five stops in the first half.
The Bruins conceded a season-high eight shots on goal and a season-high tying 14 total shots.
Of Note
- Bowling Green gets its first-ever win over Belmont. The Bruins had won both of the first two meetings in the series.
- The Falcons extend their unbeaten streak to six and improve to 5-0 at home this season.
- Bowling Green entered the weekend receiving five votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll and ranked 43rd in the NCAA RPI (Rating Percentage Index).
- Redshirt sophomore defender Nate Mefford made his first career start.
- Senior midfielder Eric Stiles made his first start of the season.
Up Next
Belmont returns to the Music City for a four-match homestand beginning Tuesday night with Memphis. Kickoff of the in-state non-conference matchup is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from E.S. Rose Park. All Bruin home matches are 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
