LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Central Arkansas controlled the first half and held off the comeback attempt of the Bellarmine University women's soccer team in posting a 3-1 win over the Knights in Atlantic Sun Conference play on Sunday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

A slow start would ultimately doom Bellarmine (8-2-2, 2-2 ASUN). Despite playing on a single day of rest, Central Arkansas (4-6, 1-2) was the clear aggressor in the first half and had the Knights on their heels.

The Bears had a few near-misses, including a shot off the post, before putting away two goals ahead of halftime, with Caroline Billings notching the first and Lea Duus Madsen accounting for the second.

Bellarmine asserted itself in the second half and made a game of it. In the 70th minute, sophomore forward McKenzie Carle cut the deficit in half, weaving inside the box and ripping a shot inside the near post from 14 yards for her seventh goal of the season.

Bellarmine had chances to equalize but didn't quite get enough leg on those opportunities to truly threaten. Meanwhile, UCA's Trace Pavatt turned back the Knights for good on a breakaway goal in the 90th minute.

Behind a 14-3 advantage in the second half, Bellarmine finished with a 22-12 advantage in total shots, but they were close on frame, with the Knights owning a 9-7 edge.

Bellarmine will play at 1 p.m. (ET) next Sunday in ASUN action at Eastern Kentucky.

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