LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw with Centre in a Saturday exhibition at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

Bellarmine scored inside the last five minutes of the first half, while Centre knotted it up with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation on a penalty kick. The teams did not engage in overtime.

Bellarmine carried a 12-4 advantage in shots for the game but that was primarily due to a 9-1 superiority in the first half. The attempts were at three apiece in the second half as the Colonels, who went 21-1 last season and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the DIII NCAA Tournament, regrouped to even things out.

"I thought that was a pretty entertaining and well-played game considering we are eight days in," Bellarmine Coach Chris Tinius said. "Centre is a great program poised for another terrific season and that's exactly why we wanted that game as preparation for the season. I thought most of the things we've had time to work on looked good for big chunks of the game, and some of the things we haven't addressed were pretty obvious."

Bellarmine was in command for much of the first half and broke through with a goal in the 41st minute. Junior midfielder Kira Steinke, who had just entered the contest, finished a combination off a corner kick that began with sophomore Isabella Zamborini and continued with sophomore midfielder Lauren Mackey.

Steinke's goal off the double assist stood as the only score the rest of the half and for the majority of the second half. Centre played assertively in the second half and was rewarded late as the Colonels were fouled in the box and awarded a penalty kick in the 84th minute. Taylor Gebhart made good on the opportunity.

"I thought we were very good and composed at times in the second half playing out of some tight pressure, but we never found the final piece for a second goal," Tinius said. "Then, while it culminated in the late goal, we really spent the last 20 minutes or so making too many mental mistakes against a team that is well equipped to make you pay even if you are smart."

Bellarmine scrimmages next Saturday at Charleston. NCAA rules prohibit in-game and postgame coverage of preseason contests that are identified as a "scrimmage."

All things considered, Tinius was pleased with the Knights' performance against the Colonels.

"Overall, we had a plan to play a lot of specific groupings and get certain people certain minutes to balance fitness and early season overuse," Tinius said. "For the most part, we were able to stick to that and keep a result against a good team, so that's a positive outcome this time of year." 

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