JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Belmont women’s soccer team (11-5-2, 5-4-1 A-Sun) moved another step closer to claiming their first bid to the Atlantic Sun Tournament with Sunday’s win on the road at North Florida (6-11-1, 5-5 A-Sun). The Bruins defeated the Lady Ospreys, 2-0, and recorded their 11th shutout of the season.

The teams played a strong defense match-up in the first half. UNF held the advantage in shots 3-0 but was unable to get the ball past senior netminder Micaela Crowley (Hoover, Ala.). Playing into the wind, Belmont was unable to fire off any shots in the first half and the teams headed to the locker rooms at the break, locked at 0-0.

After the break, the Bruins wasted little time in stepping up their attack. In the 60th minute, freshman Erica Carter (Spring, Texas), with an assist going to senior Kassidy Brown (Franklin, Tenn.), slipped the ball past UNF keeper Rachael Howard for her sixth goal of the season. In the last three minutes of play, Carter repeated the feat for her seventh goal, this time on a breakaway from the Lady Osprey defense.

Crowley played all 90 minutes today inside the net and became Belmont’s all-time leader in minutes played in goal. Carter led the team with two shots and two goals.

“It was a very windy game. There were very difficult playing circumstances for both teams,” said Head Coach Lisa Howe.

“In the first half, we went against the wind and did a great job of minimizing their opportunities and we stayed organized defensively. We really set ourselves up to be able to score in the second half with the wind.

“I was pleased with our depth. After going into double overtime on Friday night and then having the energy to come out and play the way we did in the second half was great. We played with a lot of energy.”

Belmont returns to action on Wednesday, October 31st in the Battle of the Boulevard. The Bruins host Lipscomb at the Whitten Soccer Complex, beginning at 6:30 p.m.