SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Bellarmine University men's soccer team gave up two late goals and could not muster a comeback as they fell to the seventh-ranked Drury Panthers on Friday afternoon in Springfield, Mo.

"Today we ultimately paid for the mistakes that we have been committing the last four games," said head coach Tim Chastonay.

Bellarmine struggled to create offensive production against a stingy Panthers defensive that has allowed just three goals on the season. Bellarmine took four shots in the game, the lowest total of their season and were shut out for the first time since last year.

In the 10th minute, Bellarmine junior goalkeeper Blake Hunter stopped a shot by junior midfielder Jack Mathis for his lone save of the game, and kept the Drury offensive at bay.

Shots in the 13th minute and 34th minute by senior forward Connor Brehm sailed wide of the target and the Knights couldn't get on the board for an early lead.

Heading into the break, the teams were tied 0-0.

Despite the tough Bellarmine defense allowing just two shots in the second half, both became Drury goals.

In the 71st minute, the Panthers converted their first goal of the game following one of their 13 corner kicks. The goal was junior forward Nick Ammann's fifth of the year and came on assists from senior defender Adam Helligenstein and junior defender Eric Heet.

"I thought that fatigue really caught up to us and caused us to make a costly mistake that led to the first goal" said Chastonay. "We had a great start to the game, and although we gave up numerous corner kicks, we were doing the right things defensively to deny their service in dangerous areas."

Six minutes before the end of the game, Drury junior midfielder Scott Stiffler dug the dagger into Bellarmine's afternoon when he scored his fourth of the year on a ball from Mathis to put Drury up 2-0. The game ended with the same score.

Drury improves to a league best 8-1 on the season, and 5-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Bellarmine falls to 5-2-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the GLVC.

Bellarmine held Drury below their season shot average, with eight on the afternoon. BU finished with four shots, two of which came off the foot of Brehm.

"Now we have to build on what we learned today and have a good week of training to prepare for another nationally ranked opponent on Friday in Lewis and a very tough Parkside team on Sunday" said Chastonay.

The Knights meet up with #12 Lewis University next Friday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium. Lewis sits at the top of the GLVC standings with a 5-0-1 conference record. Bellarmine won last year's game 2-0.