LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University men's soccer team was practically drowning in "firsts" on Thursday night at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
In the first game of the season, Bellarmine posted its first victory.
Matt Cannady secured his first-ever win as a head coach.
Sawyer Gribble recorded his first career goal. So did
Ryan Boyd, in his first collegiate game. And
Gavin Crowe tallied his first career score as well.
All of which added up to a 3-2 triumph over Evansville.
A former Bellarmine assistant, Cannady stepped into the lead role this season after the retirement of Tim Chastonay, who was at the helm of the program for nearly three decades. The Knights (1-0) are coming off a 2025 campaign in which they captured the ASUN Gold Division title and appeared in the ASUN Tournament finals for the second time in three years.
Things got off on the right foot in 2026.
Bellarmine took a 1-0 lead over Evansville (0-1) in only the eighth minute. Shortly after junior forward
Johan Nissen-Lie's header went off the post, junior midfielder
Jackson Jones served to Gribble at the 6, and the sophomore defender banged a header inside the far post.
An own goal in the 14th minute knotted the contest at 1, but Boyd provided Bellarmine momentum heading into the break when he scored in the 44th minute. Boyd received a pass from junior midfielder
Jack Raulston, cut inside the left corner of the box and ripped a shot inside the far post for a 2-1 lead.
The matchup stayed that way until Bellarmine padded the advantage in the 75th minute. Senior midfielder
Colin Mackey curled a free kick toward the back post, and Crowe was there for the tap-in.
The sophomore defender's goal proved to be much-needed insurance. The Purple Aces were successful on a penalty kick in the 88th minute.
Evansville held a 13-12 advantage in total shots, but Bellarmine had a 7-5 edge on frame.
Bellarmine will play at 7 p.m. (ET) Tuesday at Xavier.
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