LOUISVILLE, Ky. ---Down but never out, the No. 21 Bellarmine University women's soccer team scored two goals in the final 12 minutes of the game to earn a 2-1 victory over the visiting Findlay Oilers on Friday night at Owlsey B. Frazier Stadium.

“We came into the game a little banged up and I'm proud that the girls competed and fought through it,” said Coach Jonathan Velotta, adding that the game can be a great starting point for the team. “We can really build on a game like this and it will help us work towards our goals as a team.”

The Knights came out and asserted themselves in the early going, but could not put the ball in the back of the net, having one shot hit the post and another denied by a Findlay defender. The Oilers quickly stole the momentum, stunning the Knights' defense when Katie Burke's shot from 20 yards out sailed just over the outstretched hand of BU keeper Amy Kunowski. The shot would be Findlay's only on goal in the game.

As the clock ticked away late in the second half, it appeared it was not Bellarmine's night as they missed on chance after chance.  All that changed in the 79th minute when freshman Jordan Major headed home a cross off the foot of Brianna Simmons to tie the game up.

McKenzie Combs provided the game winner at the 87:44 mark, beating Findlay's goalkeeper, Kelsea Corns, in close and firing a shot into the right side of the goal, midfielder Lauren Boyd was credited with the assist.

While Combs and Major got the credit in the box score, Velotta was quick to point out that it was truly a team victory. “We showed that our depth is a huge asset. With the injuries it was crucial for people like Jessie York and Kaylee Gabhart to step up and that is exactly what they did.” Gabhart, a senior from Elizabethtown, Ky., made her first career start.

Bellarmine hits the road on Sunday for their next contest, traveling to Columbus, Ohio to battle with Ohio Dominican.  Gametime is set for noon.

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