Bellarmine University Athletics

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--The Bellarmine University men's soccer team lost 3-2 in overtime to the No. 3 Drury Panthers tonight in the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship on Drury’s campus.

The fifth-seeded Knights had thoughts of an upset over the top-seeded Panthers when Jordan Beckles' goal in the 66th minute gave Bellarmine a 2-1 lead. The Bellarmine defense and goalkeeper Zane Reifsteck held the Panthers at bay until Ben Hamilton tied the score with just 6:57 left in regulation.

Bellarmine got the first shot off in overtime, but Robert Bowling’s attempt sailed high.  Less than a minute later, Drury’s Steve Wilczewski, a first team all-conference forward got the game-winner for the Panthers. 

Drury was the aggressor for most of the game, holding a 21-9 advantage in shots. However, the first half was a scoreless affair until DU’s Micah Whorton found the back of the net in the 41st^d minute to stake the Panthers to a 1-0 lead.

After the break, Bellarmine turned to their two all-conference offensive players to knot the score 1-1 as Ross Hopkins provided the assist for Brad Barraclough’s score on a breakaway from 20 yards out in game’s 47th minute.

The loss likely ends the season for Bellarmine (11-6-1) as only four men’s teams from the region make the NCAA tourney field.