LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Unfortunately for the 13th-ranked Bellarmine University women's soccer team, the Quincy squad that made a huge statement to open the season against defending national champion Grand Valley State arrived in full form Friday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
The Knights saw their program-record 13-game unbeaten streak come to an end as the Hawks scored three goals in the second half of a 3-0 victory in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
"Well, they say all good things must come to an end, and that was the perfect recipe for a bad ending," BU Coach
Chris Tinius said. "Quincy is a very good team, and I don't know that we would have beaten them today with our best effort. But when you get physically dominated like that all over the field, it's not going to matter who you play."
The outburst for Quincy (9-2-3, 6-2-3 GLVC) came against a Bellarmine unit (12-1-1, 9-1-1) leading the nation in goals-against average after allowing a single goal all season coming into the contest. The Hawks opened the season with a 3-0 victory over then-No. 1 Grand Valley State.
Bellarmine's defense had notched eight straight shutouts entering the match, but Ashley Burton ended the scoreless string when she headed in a corner kick from Maddy Kuhlenberg in the 63rd minute. Burton then scored off another set piece in the 79th minute, sinking a shot off a free kick from Allison Birke.
Abby Pulliam added Quincy's third goal when she gathered a deflected ball off a BU defender and found the net. It was one of eight Hawks' shots on goal, while the Knights only had one. The goal was also the first allowed by the Knights this season that wasn't a part of a set piece.
"We were under pressure and almost every time we cleared or tried to build out, it was right back down our throat," Tinius said. "You don't always have to play great, but you have to be up for the battle, and we allowed way too many free balls for their backs and midfielders."
Bellarmine will host Truman State at noon (ET) on Sunday on Senior Day. The Knights and Bulldogs (8-0-3 GLVC) are tied atop the league standings.
"We have to keep things in perspective," Tinius said. "It was just a streak ending and not our season. I still feel the same about our group as I did before the game. There are a lot of things we do very well, and some that we don't. That didn't change today. What changed was the people in the other uniform made us pay and then we backed down from the challenge.
"One loss in 14 games doesn't define this team. What will define this team is our mindset when we show up for practice tomorrow and for the game on Sunday."
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