NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Facing the reigning ASUN champion on its home field, the Bellarmine University men's soccer team didn't just walk away with its head held high.
The Knights felt the kind of sting that only comes with knowing that they not only
could have won but performed well enough to the point where they believed they
should have won.
Alas, it was not to be, as top-seeded Lipscomb made a goal late in the first half stand up in edging second-seeded Bellarmine 1-0 in the ASUN Championship finals Saturday night at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex.
Bellarmine (6-5-6) had already made program history with its first-ever appearance in the ASUN title game. The Knights then came heartbreakingly close against the Bisons (10-3-4) to capturing their first championship.
With a minute left, junior midfielder
Brendan Schoemehl's header from the 6 off a splendid service from senior defender
Austin Yowell was just high of the crossbar. The sequence truly summed up the second half in particular for Bellarmine.
So close, so often.
Senior midfielder
Jack Fischer had a header off a pinpoint cross from freshman midfielder
Calle Sjoberg ricochet off the post. Later, after a hustle play by junior forward
Chris Shust led to a red card on Lipscomb's goalkeeper, Fischer tested new GK Harrison Gough immediately on a free kick from 19 yards, but his diving stab stopped a would-be goal on a spot-on attempt.
Before the red card, Juan Carlos Rodriguez's quick reflexes saved a potential header goal from Schoemehl off a corner kick by senior midfielder
Rahim Shalash.
Bellarmine freshman goalkeeper
Tudor Iordan also had key stops, none bigger than thwarting a penalty kick by ASUN Player of the Year Tyrese Spicer in the first half.
Lipscomb scored the lone goal in the 40th minute. Malachi Jones connected with a tightly guarded Javanne Smith at the 6, and Smith managed to slot a one-touch inside the near post.
Lipscomb finished with a 15-11 advantage in shots, but Bellarmine had a 5-4 edge on frame. The Knights also had the best end of an 8-5 tally on corner kicks.
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