LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sophomore forward
Johan Nissen-Lie recorded the first-ever hat trick for the Bellarmine University men's soccer team in the Division-I era as the Knights rolled to a 7-0 victory over D3 Spalding on Wednesday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
In the first game after Bellarmine head coach
Tim Chastonay announced his end-of-season retirement, the Knights (3-2-2) posted their second-most goals, assists (seven), points (21), shots (23) and shots on goal (14) in the D1 era, all runner-up to numbers amassed in last season's 8-0 win at Southern Indiana.
Bellarmine improved to 3-0 at home this season after tallying five goals in the first half and two more after the intermission against the Golden Eagles (2-3-2).
Freshman forward
Joaquin Wladdimiro and freshman defender
Brady Smith netted their first respective collegiate goals. Redshirt junior midfielder and transfer
Colin Mackey notched his first goal as a Knight, while sophomore forward
Teddy Franke scored for the first time this season.
Redshirt senior midfielder
Brendan Schoemehl collected a pair of assists. Smith, Franke, senior defender
James Gardev, sophomore midfielder
Jackson Jones and redshirt junior forward
Bennett Kirn registered one helper apiece.
Nissen-Lie's hat trick came on Bellarmine's first three goals. The first came on a penalty kick in the sixth minute. The second was a little over two minutes later and came off a Schoemehl service where Nissen-Lie tracked the ball from behind and looped a one-touch over Spalding's charging goalkeeper.
In the 25th minute, Nissen-Lie secured the hat trick after finishing off a connection that began with Schoemehl and was bridged by Gardev. Nissen-Lie has accumulated a team-high five goals.
Wladdimiro found the net with a header in the 35th minute. A header pass from Franke after a service by Smith set him up.
Franke then staked Bellarmine to a 5-0 lead at halftime after scoring in the 41st minute. Jones deflected a Spalding pass on the back line, and Franke cleaned up off the carom.
Mackey rifled in a goal from the top of the box in the 77th minute, and Smith put in a rebound goal off the save of a Kirn shot in the 83rd minute.
Bellarmine's defense earned its second straight clean sheet. The Knights limited the Golden Eagles to five shots, including only one on frame.
Bellarmine will play at 7 p.m. (ET) Saturday at Bowling Green State.
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