Box Score
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ? Belmont (3-0) scored a pair of first-half goals on Friday night to hand the Trojans a 2-0 defeat in the team's 2006 home opener. In addition to being UALR's home opener, the contest also marked the first night game ever played at Burns Park Soccer Complex.
UALR (1-2) outshot the Bruins 10-7 in the contest and appeared to be the more aggressive team throughout the night. The Trojans had several scoring opportunities in the game, including a shot by senior Ariel Macpherson which hit the crossbar in the first minute, but could not slip one past Belmont goalkeeper Micaela Crowley. The junior keeper recorded two saves en route to her first shutout of the season.
"It's a tough loss to take. I felt like we had better possessions during the game, and had the ball on their end of the field more. We just couldn't break down their defense, and to their credit, two of their defenders were two of the best defenders we've faced this season,” said UALR head coach Greg Hess. “We made two mistakes that really cost us, and they capitalized on both of them.”
The Bruins got on the board 11:20 into the game when Lauren Uremovich beat senior Ashley Boccarossa on an indirect free kick. Jamie Bullock assisted on the goal, which was Uremovich's second of the year. Belmont struck again at the 26:46 mark, as Uremovich fed Kaitlin Thomas for a goal in front of the net.
Boccarossa came up with three saves in the second half to prevent Belmont from extending its lead. The Trojans had five shots in the second half, but were unable to cut into the Bruins' lead. Freshmen Grace Rich and Dana Sahd accounted for the Trojans' two shots on goal in the loss.
UALR returns to action next week when it travels to Hammond, La. to take on Southeast Louisiana at 4 p.m.
