LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The final installment of the mythical "Chastonay Cup" ended with both
Tim Chastonay and AJ Chastonay gripping the prize together.
For the family, that may have been the perfect conclusion to the saga. Ever the competitors, both father and son likely bemoaned the lack of a win.
The fifth and final chapter between
Tim Chastonay, the Bellarmine University men's soccer coach, and AJ Chastonay, a senior midfielder for Belmont, ended in ambiguity, as the Knights and Bruins played to a 1-1 draw Tuesday night in Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
With his squad carrying a 3-0-2 mark in the five games, AJ probably left his hometown with the edge in bragging rights for the series, but the last four matches have all been hotly contested, capped by yet another barnburner.
Befitting the evening, AJ scored the goal for Belmont (2-2-2), his third against Bellarmine (1-2-2) in Frazier Stadium in his career. It came in the 59th minute, as he made a diagonal run from the left wing toward the center of the box before whistling a low shot inside the left post.
Bellarmine only had one shot on goal, but the Knights made it count. With less than five minutes remaining, junior defender
Rhys Davies whipped a throw-in toward the center of the 6, and sophomore midfielder
Tate McCrery headed it inside the left post for the equalizer.
It was the first goal of McCrery's career and the second assist this season for Davies.
Bellarmine nearly pulled off another goal on a set piece. With approximately 30 seconds left, senior defender
Austin Yowell launched a free kick that sophomore defender
Jeffrey Cox headed from the left side of the 6 toward the right upper 90, but the chance grazed the top of the crossbar and continued out of bounds to effectively end the contest.
Belmont maintained much of the possession in the first half, but both teams' defenses were stout throughout, as the shots finished even at five apiece.
Bellarmine will play at 8 p.m. (ET) Saturday at Southern Indiana.
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow BUKnights on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.