LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine Men's Soccer Team earned its second shutout of the young season, defeating intra-city rival Spalding University 2-0 on Friday evening at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
Junior midfielder Ross Hopkins' ninth-minute goal off junior defender Brett Gregory's cross from the left side was all the scoring the Knights needed in a game where the Golden Eagles only managed to create three shots.
Bellarmine (2-0) doubled the lead in the 60th minute when junior forward Bradley Barraclugh netted his shot from eight yards out off a splendid Michael Whitman pass around keeper Aaron Harkins.
Sophomore goalkeeper Zane Reifsteck produced his second consecutive clean sheet, playing all 90 minutes in goal.
The Bellarmine barrage was consistent throughout the match, as the Knights outshot the Eagles 21-3 in a physical game that forced the referees to call 21 fouls, 17 of them on Spalding (1-1).
Further evidence of the physical play was expressed in the seven cautions handed out, including ones by Hopkins (14th minute), Whitman (27'), and Reifsteck (73'). Senior midfielder Matthew Cannady was sent off in the 71st minute, and will be ineligible for the squad's next match.
The Knights will be back in action on Sunday afternoon for their conference opener against Kentucky Wesleyan at Frazier Stadium. Game time of the second leg of the women's/men's doubleheader is at approximately 2:30 p.m., with the women's game kicking off at noon.
