Though the weather was chilly, the sixth seed Belmont men’s soccer team was hot in the first game of its Southern Conference playoff run, winning 4-0 against seventh seed Virginia Military Institute.
The Bruins showed versatility in its offense with four goals scored by three different members of the team.
The defense also put up an impressive fight, holding the Keydets to just nine shots throughout the game and leaving them scoreless in Belmont’s third shutout win of the season.
In the 24th minute of the first half, junior Jordan Dozzi was the first Bruin to find the back of the net in his fourth shot of the half, with the help of senior Sam Borgel and junior Marius Svendsen.
Although the Bruins took six more shots in the first half, they were unable to connect, ending the half leading 1-0.
The Bruins extended their lead quickly in the second half with two goals scored by sophomore Kyle Barks, both assisted by sophomore Niccolo Dagnoni.
The two goals scored by Barks marked his second and third of this season and a career high with two goals in one game.
Belmont capped its win with its fourth and final goal in the 89th minute by sophomore Pablo Martin Virgilio, which was accompanied by first career assists by sophomore Liam O’Brien and freshman Corey Lavinder.
The Bruins’ win is sending them into the Southern Conference quarterfinals for the second consecutive season, which is their first under the new head coach, David Costa.
The Bruins will take on third seed East Tennessee State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.
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Written by Julieann Challacombe. Photos by Julieann Challacombe and Chloe Eberhardt.