Bruin Blitz 9/2-9/7

Men’s soccer (0-4-0)

Sept. 5 at Evansville

Belmont men’s soccer team fell to Evansville 5-0 Friday night.

Charlie Macias scored two early goals to help guide the Purple Aces against the Bruins.

The Bruins’ best scoring chance came from senior Luca Schioppa minutes before Macias scored his second goal.

Six minutes later, Faik Hajderovic nailed a well-placed shot in the upper corner to give the Aces a comfortable 3-0 lead at halftime. The Purple Aces would tack on two more goals in the second half to win the match 5-0.

Sept. 7 at Nebraska-Omaha

The team continued its road struggles with a 3-1 loss to Nebraska-Omaha Sunday afternoon.

Omaha found the scoreboard first in the 27th minute when Xavier Gomez setup Vance Rookwood for the goal.

Belmont quickly answered, and junior Raphael Colmanette delivered a pass to senior Joao Fonseca, who tied the game for the Bruins.

However, Rookwood scored his second of the afternoon less than four minutes later to give Omaha a 2-1 lead.

The Bruins nearly tied the game again in the 73rd minute when Indiana native and senior captain Tyler Vieth tried to capitalize on a corner kick from Diego Figueroa. However, Omaha’s keeper Joseph Ghitis came up with the save.

In the 83rd minute, Emir Alihodzic sealed the win for Omaha with the final goal of the afternoon.

Coach Green and the Bruins play their first home game of the season Sept. 12 against James Madison. Shuttle rides will be provided to Belmont students for free.

Women’s soccer (2-1-2)

Sept. 5 at Samford

The women’s soccer team suffered its first loss of the season Friday night as the Bruins dropped a 2-0 contest to Samford.

Senior newcomer Megan Byrd started her first game of the season, finishing with four saves. Eight different Belmont players recorded at least one shot.

While the Bruins created several chances in the first half, the Bulldogs found the back of the net in the 34th minute off a redirected shot. Samford doubled its lead two minutes into the second half.

Belmont continued to press forward and improved its shot totals in the second half, but the Bruins couldn’t dig themselves out of the 2-0 hole Samford created.

Sept. 7 v. Georgia State

For the fourth time this season, the Belmont women’s soccer team found itself playing yet another overtime game. This time the Bruins battled to a scoreless draw against the Georgia State Panthers on Sunday afternoon.

All three home matches at Rose Park have been sent into overtime for the Bruins.

“They are doing a great job of being engaged the entire 90, 110 minutes. That’s one of the big things I’m proud of,” said Belmont coach Heather Henson. “That’s what Belmont women’s soccer has done over the years is traditionally play until the very last whistle, whatever time that is.”

Freshman Tara Austin led the Bruins offensively with three shots, while senior Megan Byrd tallied five saves in her second start of her career for Belmont.

The Bruins travel to North Carolina for a two-game road swing where Belmont will face Appalachian State and UNC-Asheville.

Volleyball (2-5)

Sept. 5-6 at Bulldog Invitational

College of Charleston

The volleyball team dropped its first match in Athens, Ga. Friday afternoon as the team fell in four sets to the College of Charleston (19-25, 15-25, 25-15, 24-26).

After the Cougars developed a 18-10 lead in the first set, the Bruins rallied with five straight points off four kills to pull within three. But Charleston closed out with a 7-4 run to take the first set.

While Belmont trailed by one point halfway through the second, Charleston capitalized on hitting errors from the Bruins to win the set.

Belmont battled back in the third set with 17 kills in 26 attempts and won its first set of the day 25-15. The Bruins tried to use the momentum from the win to force a fifth set after holding a 23-20 advantage in the fourth.

However, the Cougars scored six points to secure the victory. Three Bruins earned double-doubles, including senior Scarlet Gable with a match-best 14 kills in addition to 12 digs.

Georgia Bulldogs

The Bruins were swept by the tournament hosts Georgia in three sets (20-25, 13-25, 19-25) Saturday morning.

Belmont took a 13-11 lead midway in the first set before Georgia rallied with three points to take the lead. With the set tied 19 apiece, the Bulldogs scored six of the final seven points to take the 1-0 match lead.

In the second set, the Bruins fought back to come within three points before the Bulldogs extended the lead 15-8. A service error from Belmont allowed Georgia to reach set point and seal the set with a block.

The third set continued to have the same pace as the opening set with the teams tied 12-12. However, Georgia put together a 5-1 run which forced Belmont to call a timeout.

The Bruins pulled back within four points, but the Bulldogs went on to complete the sweep.

UT-Chattanooga

Despite the loss to Georgia earlier in the day, Belmont closed out the tournament with a sweep of its own against UT-Chattanooga (25-13, 25-23, 25-14).

Three freshmen posted double-doubles for the Bruins. Arianna Person finished with a team-high 14 digs and 12 kills. Brie Lewis earned 10 digs and 10 kills, while Emma Price finished with 36 assists and 10 digs.

Belmont travels to compete in the Blue Raider Bash on Sept. 12. and Sept. 13 hosted by Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The first game against Virginia Tech is set for noon.

Women’s Golf

Sept. 7 at Murray State Invitational

The women’s golf team completed day one of the Murray State/ Jan Weaver Invitational at Drake Creek Golf Club in Ledbetter, Ky. After two rounds of golf, the team stands in seventh place with a 36-hole mark of 619.

Belmont finished rounds of 312 and 307 Monday, and two Bruins are among the top 20. Senior Sydney Hudson leads Belmont tied for seventh place at 150, scoring 75 in both rounds and eight shots behind individual leader Brooke Cusamano of Southern Illinois.

Freshman Katie Story, in her first collegiate match, is tied for 16th at 153. She carded rounds of 79 and 74. Other Bruin scores from day one included the following: Abbie Gregory (T-26, 156), Evin Edens (T-40, 160), and Mallory Sullivan (T-50, 164).

Two Belmont golfers are competing as individuals. Sophomore Alexi Bevans shot 154 and is tied for 22nd place, and fellow classmate Megan Heath is tied for 40th place at 160.

The third and final round began Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

Men’s Golf

SIUE Dolenc Invitational

After day one of competition at the SIUE Dolenc Invitational held Monday at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, Ill., Belmont is tied for sixth place.

Belmont shot rounds of 296 and 295 Monday to finish the day tied with Murray State for a 36-hole score of 595. Oral Roberts is the tournament leader at 585.

Belmont has three golfers among the top 25. Junior Ashton Van Horne is in fourth place at 142, with rounds of 74 and 72. He is one shot behind tournament leaders, Scott Newell of ORU, Mark Karlsen of MIssouri State and Samuel Matthew of South Dakota (141).

Belmont senior Ted Moon and junior Scott Barnhart are tied for 24th place, each with a score of 150. Both golfers shot rounds of 76 and 74 on Monday. Other scorers for Belmont included: Brian Grisard (T-51, 153) and Noah Trenkler (T-57, 154).

Competing as an individual, sophomore Logan Matthews is tied for 71st place at 151.

The third and final round began Tuesday at 8 a.m.

Emily Proud contributed to this report.

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