LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University men's soccer team is back.
In what Bellarmine viewed as a must-win game, the Knights delivered, keeping their hopes alive for an ASUN Tournament berth behind a 2-1 victory over Jacksonville on Saturday night at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
Freshman midfielder
Nick Harshaw scored and created a penalty kick opportunity that sophomore midfielder
Tate McCrery capitalized on for Bellarmine (4-6-3, 1-3-1 ASUN), which notched its first conference win after defeating Jacksonville (3-6-5, 1-3-2).
Bellarmine had been shut out in its first four ASUN games, but Harshaw broke the scoreless streak in only the 10th minute. After stealing the ball on Jacksonville's back line, he raced into the box, darted right to free up space from the Dolphins' goalkeeper and ripped a shot into the net for a quick 1-0 lead on his third goal of the season.
Jacksonville controlled possession for much of the rest of the first half and leveled the contest on Juan Pablo Gonzalez's goal in the 35th minute. It was his first of the season.
Although it wasn't a scoring play, Harshaw was involved in a season-saving sequence when he was taken down in the box in the 62nd minute. McCrery stepped forward to take the ensuing penalty kick and buried the attempt for his second goal of the season.
Bellarmine's defense held firm from there. Jacksonville's Crisotbal Molina-Campo made a spectacular turn and strike in the 88th minute, but his shot was slightly off to the right. That was the closest call for the Dolphins once again leveling the match.
Jacksonville finished with a 16-6 advantage in shots but only 4-2 on frame.
Bellarmine celebrated Senior Day. The Knights honored
Jeremy Mason,
Austin Yowell,
Brendan Schoemehl,
Chris Shust,
Ben Griffis,
Ty Been,
Jack Fischer,
Jackson Marks and
Santiago Ibarreche.
Bellarmine will host FGCU in an ASUN contest at 12:30 p.m. (ET) Tuesday. The match was postponed from an earlier date due to travel complications for the Eagles in the aftermath of a hurricane.
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