LOUISVILLE, Ky.—After the game was delayed by an hour to remove snow from the field, it took Bellarmine just seven seconds to score as Knights saw their offense ramp up in a 13-9 victory over Cleveland State at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium today.
Bellarmine (1-2) had scored just seven goals in each of its first two games, but eclipsed that total in the second quarter of today's game.
Senior captain Brian Wall had a strong effort with four goals, a pair of assists, and five ground balls to lead the Knights. Sophomore Morgan Macko also had a big game with three assists and two goals.
As good as the offense was today, Bellarmine Coach Kevin Burns was probably even more pleased with the effort the Knights gave in tracking down ground balls, where they had a 28-17 advantage.
After the quick goal to open the game, Stephen Votto muscled in a shot off a Wall feed to give Bellarmine an early 2-0 lead.
The Vikings (0-4) came back to knot the score at two apiece with 4:40 remaining in the opening quarter.
Neither team was finished scoring in the first period, however.
Will Roshkowski put the Knights ahead 72 seconds after CSU had tied the game, but Isaac Atencio answered for the Vikings just 49 seconds later.
Even with that quick rally, the offenses still weren't through in the first quarter. Wall registered a goal at the 1:15 mark and another with just 10 seconds remaining to give the Knights a 5-3 lead.
As it turned out, 10 seconds was just enough time for the Vikings to score once more as Jake Higgins scooped up the ensuing face-off and dished to Jared Stepka, who scored as time expired to make it 5-4 after one quarter of play.
Bellarmine and Cleveland State traded goals to open the second period, but Bellarmine closed the half with four unanswered goals to take a 9-5 lead into halftime.
After the break, freshman Luke Legnard made it five straight for the Knights as the BU cushion swelled to five. Cleveland State notched the only other goal of the third quarter to trim the Bellarmine margin to 11-6 heading into the fourth.
Legnard, who finished with his first collegiate hat trick, again pushed the BU lead back to six, and the Knights held off Cleveland State coming down the stretch to win by four.
Just as Bellarmine outshot Robert Morris in the opener and suffered a defeat, the Vikings outshot the Knights 35-32 today. Knights' goalies Jordan Dondoyano and Ian Reilly combined for 12 saves to combat the shot differential, while the CSU goalies stopped just six BU shots.
Bellarmine's man-down defense also come up in a big way. With 12 total penalties called in the game, the Knights held CSU scoreless in seven extra man opportunities. Bellarmine, on the hand, converted on three of four man-up chances.
In the face-off "X," freshman Michael Autry had a solid outing, winning 14 of 22, picking up eight ground balls, and dishing out a pair of assists.
The Vikings got a balanced scoring attack with eight different players tallying at least one goal. Michael Wilson notched two scores for CSU to lead the Vikings.
Bellarmine returns to action in one week when the Knights will face the Manhattan Jaspers in a neutral site game at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania.
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BOX SCORE (HTM)
