BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — After a goal-filled first half, Ferris State broke a deadlock with the lone goal of the second half to capture a 3-2 victory over the Bellarmine University women's soccer team Sunday at Bulldog Soccer Field.

Senior midfielder Audrey Van Der Elst collected a goal and an assist for Bellarmine (0-2), while junior defender Rosie Taylor added a goal and junior forward Annabel Moore registered an assist against Ferris State (1-1) in the nonconference contest.

"That was a hard-fought early season game," Bellarmine Coach Chris Tinius said. "Ferris has a group that is very active and dangerous going forward. I thought we actually did a pretty good job dealing with them in totality, but from the day we arrived for preseason we've taken a lot of little breaks. Good teams will expose that and each time we did that today they either scored or looked very dangerous." 

Four goals were scored in the first half — two by each team. Taylor and Van Der Elst connected off a free kick as Bellarmine took a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the match.

Ferris State responded with two goals that took place barely over one minute apart. Carley Dubbert assisted to Grace Verhage on the first score and then put one away herself for a 2-1 lead in the 18th minute.

The match was just over 25 minutes old when Van Der Elst racked up the contest's fourth goal as she scored off a feed from Moore to knot the game at 2. It remained that way until halftime.

Ferris State scored the lone goal of the second half. Pia Nagel delivered the game-winner in the 70th minute as she converted off a pass from Maddie Dickens.

Bellarmine was very accurate with its shots, as 11 of its 14 were on frame. Alison Chesterfield had nine saves for Ferris State. The Bulldogs attempted 15 shots with eight coming on goal.

"There were a lot of positives today. We were much better on the ball. We were better in possession and got more numbers in the attack. At times, we looked very dangerous," Tinius said. "Still, when push came to shove, we had to convince ourselves to try and get the final goal back. That's another part of our mentality that needs to improve."

After not giving up three goals in any match last season and setting a program record with eight goals allowed all season, the Knights yielded three goals each in their first two matches, which includes against No. 6 and five-time national champion Grand Valley State.

"The reality is even though we have a lot of returners, we are replacing roles that were the heart and soul of what we were best at last year," Tinius said. "I am happy with the progress we made today compared to Friday's game, but it's going to take time for people to grow into some of those roles on a 90-minute basis."

Bellarmine hosts Charleston on Thursday and Northwood next Sunday. Those are the Knights' final two nonconference matches of the regular season.

"This was a difficult trip, but we knew that going in," Tinius said. "We will be better for it in the long run."

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