NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With its 1-0 shutout over visiting Central Arkansas (1-3) on Sunday afternoon, the Belmont women’s soccer team (4-0) matched a mark that has stood since the 1998 campaign. The Bruins extended their win streak to four matches, the first time the program has done so since 1998.

The game started sluggishly on both sides of the ball, as each time struggled to put together a rhythm that could lead to a goal. The back-and-forth action continued throughout much of the first stanza until back-to-back shots by rookies Ivy Bentley (Huntsville, Ala.) and Patience Whitten (Germantown, Tenn.) turned up the Bruins’ offensive effort. However, neither team was able to find the back of the net in the half.

After the break, BU came out stronger and more eager to notch a goal. In the 48th minute, senior Jamie Bullock (Franklin, Tenn.) dribbled the ball up the middle of the field and passed to junior Anna Holt (Nashville, Tenn.) whose attempt flew high over the crossbar. In the 62nd minute, freshman Erica Carter (Spring, Texas) dribbled the ball down the near left side and passed the ball into the box to classmate Whitten who pushed the ball past UCA netminder Heather Joye. A shot by Kelsey Weisgram was one of UCA’s best scoring attempts but sophomore goalkeeper Zirka Thompson (Alpharetta, Ga.) made a two handed grab that put the game out of reach for Central Arkansas.

“I thought Central Arkansas had a hard working team,” said Head Coach Lisa Howe. “We didn’t start strong into the game but we played ourselves into it. [By the end of the game] we were executing the passes and attacks that we wanted to.”

Belmont held the advantage in shots, 12-4, and corner kicks, 6-1. Joye came away with five saves on the day while Thompson and senior Micaela Crowley (Hoover, Ala.) split time inside the net. Each Bruin keeper finished with two saves.

Belmont returns to action on Friday, September 14th in its first road contest of the season. The Bruins will take on Valparaiso beginning at 4 p.m.