CHARLOTTE, NC — There is justice in the soccer world.
Exactly one week after the Bellarmine University men suffered a devastating 3-2 loss to reigning ASUN champion Lipscomb when the Bisons scored inside the last 10 seconds, the Knights found themselves on the other side of the spectrum against Queens, joyously celebrating after finding the net with 4 seconds remaining in a 1-0 conference victory over the Royals at the Queens Sports Complex.
With 8 seconds left, senior defender
Austin Yowell gathered a Queens clearance on the left wing and, from 30 yards out, served the ball toward the far post. From just inside the goalie box, senior defender
Brock Pope headed a pass toward the center of the goalmouth that eluded the outstretched leg of a Royals defender.
Right on that defender's tail, junior forward
Chris Shust lunged at the same time and cleanly struck a shot while diving, ramming it into the net for the game-winner and triggering a delirious celebration by the Knights (2-2-5, 1-1-1 ASUN), who one week prior had been the ones left standing in disbelief in the same situation.
Shust's two goals this season have come in the last two games. Pope boosted his assist total to a team-high three, while Yowell, a transfer, notched his first point in a Bellarmine uniform after being on the front end of the double assist.
Although Bellarmine arguably could have had a multiple-goal lead at halftime after several dangerous chances early in the match, the Knights were fortunate to keep Queens (1-6-2, 0-3) off the board in the second half. Senior goalkeeper
Matthew Brozovich had a 1vs1 save, and Yowell had to swoop in with a timely slide tackle to thwart another potential 1v1, both by Gaston Moise.
Still, Bellarmine did finish with an 18-12 advantage in shots, including 6-5 on frame. The Knights had nine attempts in each half.
Brozovich registered five saves and he and Bellarmine's defense recorded their third shutout. Brozovich moved into a tie for seventh all-time with 12 career clean sheets.
Bellarmine will play at 7 p.m. (ET) Saturday at FGCU.
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