NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State soccer team wrapped up a weekend road trip with a 4-1 loss to Belmont on Sunday at E.S. Rose Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
The weekend started with a 3-1 setback in Charleston, Illinois against Eastern Illinois. JSU dropped to 3-10 overall and 0-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. After three league matches on the road, the Gamecocks will return to the JSU Soccer Field for a pair of conference outings next Friday and Sunday. JSU will host Austin Peay on Friday, October 11 before taking on Tennessee Tech on Sunday, October 13. The program will honor the senior class prior to the match with APSU. Match time is set for 7 p.m. Admission is free to all JSU home matches.
The Bruins broke up a 1-1 deadlock with three goals in the final 34 minutes as Belmont's Niki Clements scored two of the three goals to collect a hat trick on the day. Clements put the first goal of the day in the opening half with a goal in the 23rd minute. After an own goal was awarded to Jax State to equalize in the 51st minute, Clements broke the tie five minutes later. Julie Garst squeezed in a goal between the three by Clements.
"I think we just ran out of gas today with so many people out and we could not rotate anyone in. I can't fault the girls for the effort," said head coach
Neil Macdonald. "We are competing well with going after the first and second ball. I think a lot of it is just us running out of steam. We have some that are back playing, but they are not match fit. It is frustrating for everybody and we will continue to work on everything."
Belmont had a plus-nine advantage in total shots, 19-8, with JSU having six of its nine looks in the second half. Freshman
Cynthia Bagozzi had two scoring chances after recording a goal in Friday's match at EIU. She leads the team in goals with four on the season.
Macdonald noted the play of freshman defender
Briana Eads on the back line for the Gamecocks, playing all 90 minutes and to Bagogozzi.
"To be a freshman and playing left centerback, she has been outstanding and that has been a massive positive. She has taken on that role and getting better each time out," added Macdonald. "I give a lot of credit to
Cynthia Bagozzi because of her work rate."
Both matches next weekend will be available on ESPN+, the online streaming platform of ESPN.
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