JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team opened iys spring season with a tough 2-1 overtime setback to Belmont on Tuesday afternoon at the JSU Soccer Field.

The Bruins rallied past the Gamecocks with a golden goal three minutes left in overtime. Belmont sent the game into extra time after a goal in the 77th minute that equalized the contest.  Keely Cartrett finished the game with a goal through a scrum in front of the JSU goal.

After a scoreless 55 minutes, JSU registered the first goal of the contest after Cynthia Bagozzi picked up right where she left off last season as the team's leading scorer with a backside goal from Alicia Pallister and Ida Cederberg.

"It wasn't the result we wanted and I thought we absolutely dominated the game when you look at the stats," said head coach Neil Macdonald. "The performance was excellent, but we had a mental error on their goal and we have to clear that ball and on the second one you have to give her credit, it was a great strike."

The Gamecocks turned in six more shots than Belmont, 18-12 and has 11 corner kick opportunities in the contest. In the final 45 minutes of regulation, JSU had a 10-4 advantage in shots.  Bagozzi finished with four shot attempts while four other Gamecocks tallied two shots each.

With several new faces in the program, Macdonald was pleased with their effort in their first game with the program and on the collegiate level.

"I thought we had a a lot of contributions from them and they are all doing well." Added Macdonald. Hopefully we will have a better rotation as the season goes along."

Tuesday's action was the first competitive outing since October of 2019 for the Gamecocks due to the COVID-10 pandemic pushing the season back to the spring semester.

"I think we all have been pretty desperate to get in a competitive game because we have done a lot of 11-c-11 against ourselves to prepare.  I think everyone is super excited to be back out playing. The girls approached the game really well today and hope we can keep that energy up and keep believing in ourselves because I think we have made huge strides forward."

JSU will look to bounce back on Friday with the first of three matches away from the home pitch against Southeast Missouri on Friday, March 5. Match time against the Redhawks is set for 6 p.m. The match will be available on ESPN+.

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