NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Putting together their best offensive performance since early October of 2021, the Belmont University men's soccer team secured its first Missouri Valley Conference victory of the season Friday night at E.S. Rose Park with a dominant, 4-1 win over Bowling Green. Four different Bruins found the back of the net to extend Belmont's unbeaten streak to a program-record 12 matches dating back to Oct. 25 of last year.
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The Bruins (6-0-4, 1-0-1 MVC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead a little over 20 minutes in and never looked back, conceding only three shots on target and two corner kicks.
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The Falcons (4-5-2, 0-2-0 MVC), who were picked second in the Valley's preseason predicted order of finish, got back within two scores in the 60th minute after Belmont took a 3-0 lead, before the Bruins responded a minute later.
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Both freshman midfielder
Nzuhri Biggar and redshirt senior forward
Jimiyu Mark scored their first goals donning the Belmont jersey in the home rout.
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With eight shots on goal, the Bruins tied their season high while tallying 15 total shots. Controlling the match in all facets of the game, Belmont earned six second-half corners.
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A little over 11 minutes into the match and on the Bruins' first corner of the night, redshirt senior captain defender
Dylan Steely nearly headed in the opening goal on a feed from fellow senior captain
Brad Dildy. However, his header was deflected off the top post by Bowling Green goalkeeper Jason Ball. On the cleanup was Biggar, who tapped in his first collegiate goal to put Belmont up 1-0.
Just over 20 minutes into the evening, redshirt junior forward
Brock Kiper headed the ball over to Dildy in the top of the 18-yard box. After collecting, Dildy rifled in a beautiful goal with his left foot for his second score of the season.
After keeping the Falcons without a shot on target in the first half, the Bruins took a 3-nil advantage in the 56th minute. Freshman striker
Jaxon Stokes worked past his defender inside the box after a fantastic pass from redshirt junior midfielder
Ethan Schlegel and struck his fourth goal of the year.
Bowling Green finally responded in the 60th minute on a short free kick not too far outside the penalty area. Falcon forward Bennett Painter quickly passed the ball backward to Bowling Green defender Saul Rios, who kept things on the ground but slid in the visitors' lone tally.
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It didn't take long at all for Belmont to answer. Biggar played a ball forward to Mark from behind the center circle in the 61st minute and Mark took on two defenders the rest of the way. At the top of the box, Mark blasted in the Bruins' fourth and final goal of the night.
Graduate goalkeeper
Grant Calvert came up with a pair of second-half saves.
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Belmont is unbeaten through its first 10 matches of the season for the first time in school history.
Of Note
- The four goals scored are the most for the Bruins since a 4-0 home win over Indiana University Indianapolis on Oct. 5, 2021.
- Belmont entered the weekend as one of only 17 unbeaten teams in the nation.
- The Bruins' unbeaten streak is the third-longest in the country behind only Vermont (20) and the University of Portland (19).
- Going back to last season, Belmont has earned a result in 13 of its last 14 matches.
- The Bruins have claimed a result in 37 of their last 43 matches at Rose Park, outscoring their opponents 64-30 during that stretch.
- Since the start of the 2018 season, Belmont is 31-12-13 at home.
- Kiper earned his second assist of the season on Dildy's goal, giving him a team-leading 28 career points.
- Stokes is now tied with Kiper for the team lead in scoring (4).
- Schlegel's assist on Stokes' goal is his first career helper.
- Biggar's go-ahead pass on Mark's goal is also his first career assist.
- The Bruins improve to 3-1-0 all-time versus the Falcons.
- Belmont honored the program's alumni at midfield at halftime as part of alumni night.
Up Next
The Bruins step out of MVC play Tuesday when they head to Atlantic Coast Conference member Louisville for a 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET kickoff from Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium. The non-conference road match in Louisville, Kentucky, will be broadcast on
ACC Network Extra.
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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 theÂ
official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
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#ItsBruinTime
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