BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Two early goals conceded within the first 10 minutes of the match haunted the Belmont University men's soccer team Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green State University as the Bruins (6-5-3, 2-1-1 MVC) fell 2-0, snapping a five-match unbeaten streak. Despite outplaying the host Falcons (7-6-2, 4-1-0 MVC) the entirety of the second half and controlling much of the contest outside the initial 10 minutes of action, Belmont was unable to find the back of the net.
 
The Bruins totaled a season-high 31 shots and placed 10 of those on target.
 
Belmont outshot Bowling Green 21-3 in the second half and earned six second-half corner kicks, compared to the Falcons' two.
 
Bowling Green scored within the opening 90 seconds at Cochrane Stadium, securing a penalty kick following a handball on graduate midfielder Ethan Schlegel in the 18-yard box. The PK, taken by the Falcons' Aiden Ptacek, came off Bowling Green's initial free kick.
 
The Bruins quickly found themselves down 2-0 in Bowling Green, Ohio, as the Falcons' Luciano Perez-Cernuda capitalized in the 10th minute on a misplay by freshman goalkeeper Brody Sucher high in the box.
 
Belmont thought it had a penalty kick of its own within the first two minutes of the second half on a corner by freshman defender Zain Abdelhadi. However, following a video review it was determined Bowling Green did not commit a handball in the box on Abdelhadi's feed.
 
The Bruins threatened with 24 minutes to go but a trio of Belmont shots were blocked before graduate midfielder John McDowell took a big swing at goal.
 
With about 13-and-a-half minutes remaining, sophomore midfielder Nzuhri Biggar and Schlegel both had great looks at goal but their strikes were saved by the Falcons' Jason Ball.
 
Junior midfielder Emmanuel Aranda got the ball past Bowling Green's goalkeeper with 10 minutes left, but what looked to be a sure goal was saved at the last second by a Falcon defender in front of the net.
 
The Bruins finished with nine corners.
 
Bowling Green placed eight of its 12 shots on target.
 
Sucher came up with six saves, while the Falcons' Ball made eight stops.
 
Sophomore midfielder Paul Claes Nielsen (7), McDowell (6) and Biggar (5) accounted for 18 of Belmont's 31 shots.
 
Senior defender Callum Lee made his regular season debut as a Bruin.
 
Of Note

• Belmont has registered over 20 shots on three occasions this season.
• The Bruins have also recorded 10 shots on goal in three matches this fall.
• Sucher has made at least five saves in seven of his last 10 outings.
• Bowling Green extended its winning streak to six matches.

Up Next
Belmont returns to Music City next weekend for senior night Friday against defending Missouri Valley Conference tournament champion Western Michigan. Kickoff from E.S. Rose Park is slated for 6:30 p.m. with the Bruins' seniors being honored prior to the match. The MVC home matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+. All Belmont soccer matches at Rose Park are free to attend.
 
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.