LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the Bellarmine University women's soccer team, the ability to keep its opponent off the scoreboard carried over, and equally encouraging for the Knights was the location of the net on a pair of occasions in their first exhibition.

Junior forward Olivia Taylor and freshman forward Isabella Zamborini scored a goal apiece and Bellarmine's defense recorded a shutout as the Knights defeated Marian 2-0 Sunday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

Marian entered fresh off the most successful season in program history after finishing 16-3-4 and advancing to the second round of the NAIA National Championship tournament last year.

"That was a pretty good start for a group that's only been training for five days," Bellarmine Coach Chris Tinius said. "I thought our basic organization was good and while there is still a chemistry that needs to develop with our attacking players, we had stretches where we were more purposeful trying to create things than we have been at this juncture in past years."

Bellarmine scored a goal in each half. In the 27th minute, junior forward Annabel Moore was toward the left of the goal area and crossed to Taylor in the right side of the box. Taylor knocked in the pass for a 1-0 lead.

Bellarmine's second goal came inside the last five minutes of the match. Zamborini, around the top of the box, drilled a shot over Marian's goalkeeper for some valuable insurance in the 87th minute.

"Marian is a good team that will win a lot of games and reminded me a lot of some teams in our league," Tinius said. "It definitely brought out some focus we've been lacking at times in training and gave our newcomers a sense of what to expect."

Sophomores Elyssa Francis and Emma Veselsky combined for the shutout in goal in the substitution-heavy exhibition. Bellarmine held a 14-7 advantage in shots and 8-3 edge in corner kicks. The Knights didn't allow a shot on goal and had four themselves.

Bellarmine will host Spalding at 7:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday in its second exhibition.

"There is obviously still plenty to improve on," Tinius said. "We look forward to getting back to work in training the next three days and then give it another go on Thursday."

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