LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's soccer team clinched a berth in the ASUN Tournament with plenty of room to spare.
On Sunday afternoon at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium, the Knights put forth a decisive 2-0 victory over Queens that propels them into the postseason for the third straight season, the last two coming under
Steve Bornhoffer's stewardship.
Sophomore forward and reigning ASUN Player of the Week
Katie Paulakonis scored in the first half, and junior midfielder
Brynn Severance followed her assist on the initial goal by finding the net in the second half. Bellarmine (6-6-3, 4-2-2 ASUN) blanked Queens (2-12-3, 1-6-2) for the second time this season following the Knights' 4-0 win in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 8.
Overall, Bellarmine's defense has recorded shutouts in three of its last four matches. The Knights were near impenetrable against the Royals, allowing a mere four shots while sophomore goalkeeper
Anna Jenkins collected the two that were on frame.
Bellarmine's offense, meanwhile, piled up a season-high 28 shots. Eleven of those were on goal, matching its second-highest tally of the year.
Paulakonis staked Bellarmine to a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute on her seventh goal of the season. Hugging the right sideline, Severance boomed a lead pass from near midfield toward the right corner of the box. Paulakonis beat two defenders before slotting a shot inside the near post.
After avoiding any threats of a Queens equalizer, Severance doubled the lead in the 55th minute on her second goal of the season. Junior defender
Mckenzie Price made a cross toward the 6 that found a leaping Paulakonis. Her touch caromed to Severance, who pinballed a shot off the right post and into the net.
It's now all about attempting to host an ASUN Tournament game (goes to the top 4 seeds) for the Knights, who have two regular-season matches left, starting at 1 p.m. (ET) Wednesday at West Florida.
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