Louisville, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women’s soccer team is gearing up for an exciting semifinal match in the ASUN Championship. They’ll face off against North Florida at 1 p.m. (ET) at the FGCU Soccer Complex. Both teams pulled off impressive upsets in the quarterfinals—Bellarmine, a No. 4 seed, defeated the top-seeded FGCU 3-1, while North Florida triumphed over No. 2 seed Eastern Kentucky 1-0.
Interestingly, this matchup is a first in postseason play. While Bellarmine and North Florida didn’t face each other during the regular season, the Ospreys have a slight edge historically, leading the series 2-0-2. Their most recent encounter last season ended in a 2-0 victory for North Florida.
Bellarmine is on a roll, having recently broken a long winless streak against ASUN teams. They stunned Lipscomb, who had been undefeated in the conference, with a 2-1 win on October 22. Now, they’re looking to continue that momentum against a team that has historically given them trouble.
North Florida’s Allie Fekany scored the game-winner against Eastern Kentucky in the quarterfinals. She’s one of several players to watch; Isabella Pontieri leads the ASUN in assists and ranks high in total points and goals.
Here are some quick notes about the Knights:
– Thursday’s win marked Bellarmine’s first victory in the ASUN Championship. They had advanced in previous years but only through penalty shootouts.
– Bellarmine’s win over FGCU was particularly significant because FGCU had an impressive record in the conference, going 8-1-1 and boasting a lengthy unbeaten streak.
– This season has been a breakout for Bellarmine. Under new head coach Steve Bornhoffer, they’ve doubled last year’s win record, achieving 11 victories, and setting a program record for road wins.
Key players include McKenzie Carle, who holds the record for the most goals in a single season, and Lucy von Stefenelli, known for her game-winning efforts. It’s an exciting time for Bellarmine as they strive for a historic first appearance in the ASUN title game.
For those looking to follow their journey, updates can be found on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
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