NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Powered by a pair of goals by junior forward Brielle LaBerge, the University of Evansville women's soccer team captured an important 2-1 victory on the road over the Belmont Bruins in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday afternoon.
LaBerge's two shots were tied for best on the afternoon by an Aces a freshman Mia Lancaster also recorded two shots in the match. Between the posts, senior Bri Chirpich posted her second victory of the season, recording five saves on the day and allowing just one Bruin goal.
It did not take long for the Aces attack to find success as Evansville earned a free kick near midfield inside the first two minutes of the match. Junior Lindley Amick took the free kick and sent a ball soaring over the pack, finding LaBerge one-on-one with a defender. LaBerge quickly flicked the ball up and over the head of the Bruin keeper and into the back of the net to provide Evansville with the early advantage.
Following the goal, much of the second half saw Evansville in its defensive third as Chirpich patrolled between the posts, accumulating three first half saves, and keeping the advantage for UE at the half.
In the second half, Belmont quickly applied pressure on the Aces, eventually finding an equalizer off of a header in the 48th minute to tie the match at a goal a piece. Evansville looked to mount an answer in the 67th minute as the Aces recorded a pair of shots and earned a corner kick during a flurry of action inside the Bruins 18-yard box. Off the corner, the ball took a deflection off the head of Aces senior midfielder Ella Hamner and struck the hand of a Belmont player resulting in a penalty being awarded for the Aces. After the call was upheld following review, LaBerge stepped to the spot and finished past the keeper to re-establish the Aces lead.
Over the final 20 minutes of the match, the Bruins would go on to record seven shots, including one on goal in the 83rd minute that forced a save from Chirpich, but Evansville's backline held strong en route to the Aces 2-1 road victory.
After a nearly three week stretch away from home, the Aces return to Arad McCutchan Stadium on Thursday night at 6 PM to take on the UNI Panthers.
