LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
Emma Nicholson is one of the top goal scorers in the Atlantic Sun Conference, but on Thursday night in Owsley B. Frazier Stadium, the senior forward specialized in the set-up.
Nicholson had a hat trick of assists and freshman forward
McKenzie Carle delivered a brace as the Bellarmine University women's soccer team rolled to a 4-0 win over Queens in ASUN action.
Junior forward
Lucy von Stefenelli supplied a goal and an assist for Bellarmine (4-8-2, 3-3-1 ASUN), which tied its Division I-era program record for goals scored against a D1 opponent (the Knights had an eight-goal game early this season against D3 Asbury). Sophomore forward
Lauren Bingham also found the net against Queens (5-8-2, 1-4-2).
In
Callie McKinney's first season as the head coach, Bellarmine has established a new program record for ASUN wins with three. The Knights have been victorious in three of their last five matches.
Nicholson tied the overall and D1-era program record with three assists. The five-way tie for the top overall spot includes sophomore defender
Dakota Bramer's three-assist outing in the aforementioned Asbury game. Nicholson now has six helpers this season in addition to her seven goals.
The finishes of all three first-half goals were impressive. In the 15th minute, Carle received a through ball from Nicholson and accelerated past Queens' charging goalkeeper toward the end line, where she pulled the trigger on her shot at the perfect moment, sinking it for a 1-0 lead.
Carle notched a brace in the 31st minute. Off another expert through ball from Nicholson, she dodged a defender in the box with a cutback and chipped a shot over the Royals' goalkeeper and into the net for a 2-0 advantage on her fourth goal of the season.
Not content with a two-goal lead, Bellarmine continued to attack and located the net a third time before the break. Nicholson — who else? — fed von Stefenelli on the right side, and she pinballed a shot off the inside of the right post and into the net. It was her fourth goal of the season.
Bellarmine was assertive defensively from the outset of the second half and refused to allow Queens a goal that might have provided hope for a comeback. The defense registered its fourth shutout, three of which have come in ASUN play.
Meanwhile, Bellarmine added a fourth goal in the 79th minute. Bingham converted off a cross from von Stefenelli for her first goal of the season.
Bellarmine had commanding advantages in total shots (17-6), shots on goal (12-2) and corner kicks (10-0).
Bellarmine will host West Georgia at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday in its final ASUN regular-season home game.
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