LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Getting its first taste of competitive action of 2021, the Bellarmine University men's soccer team captured a 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky in an exhibition game Monday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

The two teams, who were former Great Lakes Valley Conference rivals when they competed in Division II, went into halftime scoreless before Bellarmine scored inside the first 10 minutes of the second half and held on from there.

In the 54th minute, sophomore forward Nolan McGrath tracked down a lead pass in the left side of the box and crossed toward the far post. Sophomore midfielder Zachary Smith raced in and slid to meet the pass in stride, sending it into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Bellarmine kept Northern Kentucky off the scoreboard, but it wasn't easy as the Norse are coming off a 7-2 campaign which featured a 7-1 mark in the Horizon League. In the second half, NKU was awarded a penalty kick and the Norse's chance banged off the crossbar.

Northern Kentucky finished with a 16-4 advantage in shots, but Bellarmine arguably had the two best looks, with Smith finishing one and NKU goalkeeper Daniel Bermingham thwarting another on a golden opportunity for the Knights on a breakaway.

Senior goalkeeper Connor Range and junior Matthew Brozovich each played one half in combining for the shutout. The Knights' duo teamed up for five saves.

Perhaps most important, 25 players saw action for Bellarmine, with 22 logging 38 minutes or more.

Bellarmine's second and final exhibition will take place at 7 p.m. (ET) Friday at Dayton.

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