Bruins Fall to Drake in Single-Goal Affair Friday Night at Rose Park

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A 24th-minute goal proved to be the difference Friday night at E.S. Rose Park as the Belmont University men's soccer team suffered just its second loss of the season, 1-0, to Drake University. Despite a well-played second half, the space between the pipes eluded the Bruins (6-2-6, 1-2-2 MVC) on senior night.
 
Belmont put together strong chances early in the second half and was flagged for offsides on a would-be goal in the closing 15 minutes.
 
The visiting Bulldogs (7-1-6, 2-0-3 MVC), who were picked as the preseason favorites to win the Missouri Valley Conference, placed three shots on goal in the first half and took the lead on a breakaway goal. Drake forward Preston Kipnusu scored in the 24th minute following a flick off the head of the Bulldogs' Crew Alvarez.
 
Putting pressure on Drake in the beginning, the Bruins earned four first-half corner kicks, including three in the opening 17 minutes. Redshirt junior forward Brock Kiper provided Belmont with its first opportunity at the 16th minute with a header that skirted just right of the near post.
 
Kiper also had a shot on goal in the 32nd minute but the Bruins headed into the locker room searching for the equalizer.
 
Two of Belmont's three shots on target came in the second half. Sophomore midfielder Emmanuel Aranda had a sharp shot in the 51st minute, but his strike from the top of the 18-yard box was snagged by the Bulldogs' goalkeeper, Tomas Butkovic.
 
Just past the 78th minute, sophomore midfielder Louis Peña appeared to have the equalizer, but the Bruins were called offsides. A great feed into the box from graduate defender Parker Forbes and a soft touch off the head of senior defender Riley Clothier found Peña, who nearly evened the score.
 
Belmont was unable to put together any real threats in the last 10 minutes.
 
Six of the Bruins' nine total shots were in the second stanza, but Belmont was unable to secure a second-half corner.
 
The Bruins didn't concede a shot on target across the final 36 minutes of the match.
 
Graduate goalkeeper Grant Calvert finished with four saves.
 
Four of the evening's five yellow cards were issued to Drake.
 
Prior to kickoff, Belmont honored its eight-man senior class with redshirt junior midfielder Simeon Betapudi, Calvert, Clothier, senior captain midfielder Brad Dildy, Forbes, senior midfielder Oscar Hough, redshirt senior forward Jimiyu Mark and redshirt senior captain defender Dylan Steely being recognized at midfield.
 
Of Note

• The Bruins slip to 1-5-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.
• Even after Friday's loss, Belmont has claimed a result in 37 of its last 45 matches at Rose Park, outscoring its opponents 65-33 during that stretch.
• Since the start of the 2018 season, the Bruins are 31-14-13 at home.
• Calvert has made at least four saves in each of his last four matches.

Up Next
Belmont has a week off from match action before heading to Bradley for a Halloween night matchup. Kickoff next Friday from Shea Stadium in Peoria, Illinois, is set for 6 p.m. The MVC road test will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Bruins will then wrap up the regular season at home on Wednesday, Nov. 5 with defending MVC Tournament champion Evansville visiting the Music City.
 
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.