LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's soccer team made its long-awaited home debut.
Knights fans didn't have to wait long for a home win.
On Thursday night at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium, Bellarmine scored a pair of goals in the first half and withstood a mighty push by Wright State toward the end of the second half in securing a 2-1 win over the Raiders.
After starting the season with four contests on the road, a home game seemed to be precisely what the doctor ordered for Bellarmine's offense. The Knights (1-3-1) produced 20 shots, which was 12 more than their previous season high. Their 11 shots on goal against Wright State (2-4-1) were seven more than their previous best.
Bellarmine scored early and then added another goal late in the first half. In the 10th minute, sophomore forward
Makenzie Simpson made a run toward the end line and her cross, after being deflected by the Raiders' goalkeeper, was redirected into the net by junior forward
Campbell Tippey, who scored for the second straight game.
Inside the final minute of the first half, freshman forward
Morgan Holloway tracked down a splendid lead pass from sophomore midfielder
Natalie Knecht and ripped a shot from 10 yards that was knocked down by Wright State's diving keeper. Freshman forward
Brooklyn Donohue was first to the loose ball and tapped it in for a 2-0 lead on her first collegiate goal.
Bellarmine came frustratingly close to a third goal on several occasions in the second half, none more so than when Donohue found Holloway for a would-be score that was overturned on video review due to offsides.
Wright State was high on a penalty kick in the 67th minute that would have cut the deficit in half, but the Raiders eventually did just that in the 77th minute on a goal by Caitlin Burger.
Although Bellarmine had its best offensive outing of the season, a defensive stop might have been the play of the game. With a little over a minute left, it appeared as if a Wright State attacker might have a 1v1 when she received a pass at the top left of the box and was wide open.
Shaded toward the right, sophomore defender
Abigail Fike sprinted diagonally toward the 6 and made a lunging stop of Taliah Pellizzari's shot. Pellizari's attempt was part of a late flurry, as Wright State finished with seven shots, including two on frame.
Bellarmine will host Marshall at 7 p.m. (ET) Sunday.
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook (@BUKnights).
