LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's soccer team played 110 minutes. The Knights seemed to need only a couple more.

On Sunday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium, Bellarmine made a forceful push in the two overtime sessions, but Missouri S&T managed to fend the Knights off long enough to preserve a scoreless tie in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

While Bellarmine (11-3-2, 8-3-2 GLVC) has often struggled this season to score multiple goals, the Knights typically find the net at least once, as Missouri S&T (5-7-3, 5-6-2) became just the third opponent to shut them out. The Knights amassed their 11th shutout defensively after a demanding Friday match in which they blanked a very strong Maryville 1-0.

"I thought that was a pretty good physical effort considering what we put into Friday night," Knights Coach Chris Tinius said. "Our work rate this fall has been the best we've seen in several years."

Bellarmine came out slow, but both teams probably could have held a lead at halftime. Missouri S&T goalkeeper Kristin Steins had a diving stop on a 1v1, and Bellarmine sophomore goalie Elyssa Francis stopped a shot from point-blank range for the second match in a row.

While Bellarmine got outshot 10-6 in the second half, the Knights' play seemed to improve, and they definitely dictated the action in the two overtimes. In the second extra session, freshman midfielder Brielle Heuglin found an opening but watched as her potential golden goal agonizingly caromed off the left post. A rejuvenated Bellarmine had an 8-1 advantage in shots in the overtimes.

"I did not think we were as prepared as we could have been mentally," Tinius said. "We weren't very in tune to our shape and it showed. S&T played well and, as a result, had control of good portions of the first half. I thought the second half and overtime we looked pretty good. We weather the first half and then asserted ourselves pretty well."

On the strength of the overtimes, Bellarmine finished with an 18-15 advantage in shots. Many of Missouri S&T's opportunities were created by threatening flip-thrower Chayse Richardson. The Miners had a 14-10 edge in attempts at the end of regulation. Bellarmine had a 9-6 advantage in shots on frame; keepers Steins and Francis saved them all.

"They racked up a high shot count because every time that long throw comes in it's dangerous, but I thought as far as the flow of play we got a hold of things a bit," Tinius said. "We know we are going to be streaky finishing. That's who we are and it's who we will be. It doesn't change the success we've had or what we can still accomplish. We have to keep at it and hope that comes back around."

While the GLVC standings haven't indicated it as of this posting, it appears that Bellarmine has clinched a berth in the eight-team GLVC Tournament. In a conference loaded with parity, locking down a spot with one weekend still left to play is no small feat.

"We also can't lose sight of the positive that we are now in the conference tournament," Tinius said, "which shouldn't be taken for granted in this league." 

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