DAYTON, Ohio — The Bellarmine University men's soccer team scored twice in the second half and survived a late push by Dayton in defeating the Flyers 2-1 on Wednesday night at Baujan Field.
Sophomore midfielder
Haziq Zed scored off an assist from junior goalkeeper
Connor Range, and sophomore forward
Juan Ballas drilled his second penalty kick in as many games for Bellarmine (3-2), which won its third straight and avoided a letdown coming off a 2-1 overtime win over No. 15 Liberty.
Range also had a big game stopping shots against Dayton (0-2), which tied for second in the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason poll. He accumulated six saves, three of which were the diving variety in the first half. Bellarmine's close calls also included a shot off the post by the Flyers, who in the speed department very much resembled their nickname.
After a scoreless first half, Bellarmine got on the board in the 57th minute. Facing no attacking pressure, Range was able to launch the ball forward from near midfield toward the left side of the box. A Dayton defender appeared to mishit a header, with the ball caroming to the opposite side and inside the box. Zed was first to the loose ball and rifled a shot from 10 yards that glanced off the goalkeeper and into the net for a 1-0 lead on his second goal of the season.
Ballas doubled up the advantage in the 74th minute. The reigning ASUN Player of the Week made a long, free run down the right side, and when he made a cut in the box, he was tripped by a Dayton defender. A foul was called immediately and Ballas sank the ensuing penalty kick — he did the same against Liberty in his two-goal performance.
Ballas' third goal of the season went from insurance to the game-winner after Jaden Jones-Riley connected with Jonas Fjeldberg in the 83rd minute to cut Bellarmine's lead in half. The Flyers kept the pressure on in the waning minutes, but the Knights' defense held strong and didn't allow the equalizer.
The action-packed contest produced 37 shots, with Dayton unloading 21 and Bellarmine firing off 16. The Flyers had eight on frame and the Knights tallied seven. Dayton also held an 11-6 advantage in corner kicks.
Bellarmine will play at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday at Liberty.
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BOX SCORE (HTM)
