Oct. 10, 2008
Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In the battle for first-place in the Atlantic Sun Conference, the Kennesaw State Owls picked up a valuable point as the Black and Gold played Belmont to a, 0-0, draw at Vanderbilt University on Friday evening.
Kennesaw State (7-3-4, 2-1-2 A-Sun) put pressure on Belmont from the outset of the match and out shot the Bruins, 19-13, while taking a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal. However, it was the goalkeepers from each squad that were the difference makers.
The Owls' Staci Pugh stopped five shots in the match while Belmont's Sari Lin was able to make 10 saves including one in each of the two overtime periods to preserve the tie.
Lin made the first big stop of the night, saving a Rachel Baer one-timer that was headed for the top corner of the goal. Pugh, meanwhile, played her best match of the season and came up with the games most dramatic save when she stopped a breakaway in the second half.
Kennesaw State had another chance for victory in the first overtime period when freshman Thais Gibson played a ball to Baer, who took a touch in front of the Belmont goal, but her left-footed shot just grounded wide of the far post.
The night began well for the Owls as they had a pair of corner kicks in the 7th minute and the 12th minute. Shots on goal by Katie Scott and Baer tested Lin, but the Belmont keeper was equal to the challenges by KSU.
The Bruins (8-4-1, 3-1-1 A-Sun) had equally good scoring chances, the first coming in the 8th minute when Elizabeth Bublis had her header stopped by Pugh. Ivy Bentley had a good look in the 18th minute, but saw her shot go high over the crossbar.
The tide of the match turned in the 24th minute when Belmont's Erica Carter picked up a red card, forcing the Bruins to play with 10 players for the remainder of the match. The Owls quickly took advantage as Baer stepped up again and ripped a shot that was saved by Lin in the 27th minute.
Moments later, a corner kick followed for the Black and Gold, but Belmont was able to hold off the Owls attack. KSU applied more pressure in the 32md minute when Brittany Vining challenged Lin and Baer blasted her third shot on goal of the half.
The second half saw Caroline Austin and Baer put shots on goal against Lin in less than a minute, but each time the Bruins freshman keeper came up big as she stopped four shots in the half. Morgan McBride provided an opportunity for Belmont in the 54th minute, but her 18-yard blast was stopped by Pugh.
The final 10 minutes of regulation saw the Owls threaten with three shots. Lin stopped a potential game-winner by Beth Meadors in the 86th minute while Baer and Lauren Ruffini missed wide on shots in the 88th and 90th minute.
The Owls will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they battle the Lipscomb Bisons at 12:00 CST in Nashville, Tenn.
