NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When all was said and done in the frenetic matchup, the Bellarmine University women's soccer team was playing its song in Music City.
Sophomore forward
Katie Paulakonis delivered a brace and freshman midfielder
Ella Flynn helped set the tone Sunday by finding the net just minutes into an eventual 3-2 triumph over Lipscomb in Atlantic Sun Conference action at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex.
After defeating Lipscomb (5-4-5, 2-3-2 ASUN) for the first-time ever last season with a 2-1 home win, Bellarmine (5-6-2, 3-2-1) followed in the rematch by knocking off the Bisons for the first-time ever in Nashville. In their last two games — both on the road — the Knights piled up seven goals, beginning with a 4-0 victory at Queens.
Flynn scored two goals against the Royals en route to her second ASUN Defensive Player of the Year accolade of the season. She followed by scoring in the seventh minute against Lipscomb, slotting in the rebound off a shot by freshman forward
Morgan Holloway for her fifth goal of the year.
Paulakonis recorded her second brace of the season after previously scoring twice against Morehead State. In the 10th minute, she was taken down in the box and made Lipscomb pay for the infraction by sinking the ensuing penalty kick.
After Lipscomb's Addison Millo cut the deficit in half in the 36th minute, Paulakonis restored the two-goal lead in the 62nd minute. A service by Holloway found the head of sophomore midfielder
Nora Dimmitt inside the box, and Dimitt popped a pass to Paulakonis, who laced in her sixth goal of the season.
Millo also notched a brace, ripping an impressive strike in the 69th minute to again slice the deficit for Lipscomb.
For the most part, Bellarmine didn't face any serious threats over the final 20 minutes. The Bisons had a promising opportunity on an open header in the box, but the attempt was right at — and easily handled by — sophomore goalkeeper
Anna Jenkins, who collected four saves. The Knights did an adept job at bleeding the clock down the stretch.
It was a high-octane contest, as the teams combined for 42 shots, with Lipscomb holding a slight 22-20 edge. The Knights were superior on goal, 11-8, and continued their excellence in putting shots on frame — they have not posted a rate below 50 percent in a match all season.
Bellarmine will host West Florida at 7 p.m. (ET) Thursday.
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