Belmont Shuts Out Spartans, 1-0
10/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 7, 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont women's soccer team improved to 10-1-1 and 4-0 in the Atlantic Sun on the season with a 1-0 shutout of visiting USC Upstate (2-8, 0-4 A-Sun) on Sunday afternoon at the Whitten Soccer Complex. The victory gives the Bruins their 10th win of their first 12 matches in program history.
Belmont controlled the match from the opening whistle and dominated defensively in the first half. Upstate, though, also played solid defense and the teams went into the half knotted at 0-0. The Bruins took five shots in the opening 45 minutes of play, while Upstate tallied one. The one shot, though, came off of the foot of Alyssa Roegner who pounded a shot that Belmont keeper Micaela Crowley saved from going into the net. Samantha Spradley made three saves for the Spartans in the opening stanza.
Upstate stepped up its offensive attack in the second half and put three shots towards the goal. However, it was Belmont who would put a score on the board in the 63rd minute. Kari Lennon found the back of the net for the second time this season with help from sophomores Jennifer St. Clair and Alex Mindel (Marietta, Ga.). Belmont then relied on strong defensive to keep the shutout intact.
With time winding down in the game, Charlise Cunningham took off on a run down the right side of the field and played a cross to Carmen Osorio just outside of the box. Osorio put a good foot on the ball, but Belmont keeper Zirka Thompson, who came into the match to start the second half, made the save and the Bruins went on for the win.
BU held the advantage in shots, 12-4, and dominated in corner kicks, 6-0. Spradley was solid in the net for Upstate, finishing the game with five saves.
Upstate returns to action Thursday at 7:00 against Campbell.
