LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine lacrosse team's three-game winning streak has come to an end at the hands of the program that has proven to be their biggest nemesis in the ASUN, Utah. The Utes earned an 11-9 win over the Knights Saturday afternoon in front of a spirited crowd at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
 
"This was a pretty standard Bellarmine-Utah battle," said Bellarmine head coach Andrew Whitley. "Two talented and athletic teams battling it out for 60 minutes."
 
After the most recent 60-minute battle, the Knights are now 0-9 all-time against Utah, 0-6 since joining the ASUN.
 
Still, Bellarmine was in the game the whole way Saturday, thanks in large part to the performance of Nolan Hudnut, who recorded a career-high 22 saves. The mark ties him for the third-most in a game in program history.
 
"Nolan was terrific today," Whitely said of his freshman keeper. "He continues to play beyond his years and gives the defense so much confidence."
 
Despite Hudnut's effort, there were other areas of the game that Whitley had addressed with his team prior to the opening faceoff as being important in order to earn a victory.
 
"We said before the game that this game was going to come down to ground balls and clearing and we felt that the team that executed better in those two areas was going to come out on top and I think that proved true," Whitley said.
 
The Utes picked up six more ground balls (29-23) and converted 19 of 20 clear attempts while the Knights cleared on 23 of 29 attempts.
 
"Six failed clears is too many and some of those were in critical spots that Utah was able to take advantage of," Whitley said. "We lost the ground ball battle, but we were in position to pick up several first time ground balls and just couldn't come away with the ball."
 
Utah also dominated the faceoff X, winning 16 of 24, while committing six fewer turnovers (18-12).
 
Things started out promising as Bellarmine grabbed the momentum first when defenseman Nicholas Sheremetta launched a shot from well beyond the midfield line to score the game's first goal as Utes keeper Colin Lenskold had vacated the net to cover a player on the Knights' attack. It was the first career goal for the senior.
 
Michael Blaymires and Ryan Curry would add scores to help the Knights to a 3-1 lead after one. The goal for Curry was his first of the season and the second of his career.
 
Momentum swung the other way in the second quarter, though, as Utah outscored Bellarmine 5-2 en route to a 6-5 halftime lead. The Utes won seven of eight faceoffs and outshot the Knights 22-8 in the period.
 
After Will Overly scored for Utah to start the third, Bellarmine netted three straight goals, capped by John Alie's 38^th goal of the season, to take a brief 8-7 lead with 5:30 left in the third. Utah, however, scored six seconds later and added one more to lead 9-8 heading to the fourth.
 
Goals by Ryan Stines and Zachary White midway through the fourth gave Utah what would be a commanding three-goal advantage at 11-8.
 
The Utes went into clock-burning mode late, limiting the Knights' chances. Bellarmine did not get off a shot for a period of six minutes and 18 seconds until they unleashed six shots in the final 1:22. Just one of those shots resulted in a goal, Justin Wescoat's second of the game, to bring the game to its final tally at 11-9.
 
"I was really proud of our effort all over the field," Whitley said. "The kids gave everything they were capable of giving and put us in position to have opportunities to win the game. That's the thing about a champion. We have to make those plays to beat the champ. The champ will not give you those plays. Today, we didn't make enough of them, but I believe that will happen for this group."
 
Alie finished with a team-high three points on two goals and one assist. His younger brother, Joe Alie, who entered Saturday fourth in the nation in shot percentage, went scoreless on four shots (two on goal), and failed to register a point for the first time since the third games of the season. Ezra Moore, Wescoat and Blaymires each finished with two points apiece.
 
Bellarmine's record dropped to an even 6-6, 0-1 in league play. Utah, who has battled a tremendous schedule, improved to 2-7, 1-0 in league play, while earning their first win since the opening day of the season at Ohio State.
 
"We continue to get better and I'm very excited about what is in front of us and the development we continue to make," Whitley said.
 
Stines, the reigning ASUN Player of the Year, led the Utes with five points on a pair of goals and three assists while White finished with three scores and Lenskold registered 13 saves between the pipes.
 
Bellarmine continues their ASUN slate Saturday, April 5 at Air Force. Opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.
 
"We've got a couple things to work on and clean up, but we have another big one coming up against Air Force and I would expect another battle," Whitley concluded.
 
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