LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- A first-half goal by Kira Steinke was all the scoring as Bellarmine University defeated Tusculum University 1-0 in non-conference women's soccer action Saturday night.
Steinke, who had come on as a substitute just three minutes earlier, took a through pass from Lauren Mackey and scored at 37:32 for the Knights (2-0-0), who held a 23-5 shot advantage over the Pioneers (0-1-0), who were playing their season opener.
The Knights swarmed the Pioneer end of the field in the opening 13 minutes, taking five shots and putting three on target that were stopped by keeper Cecilie Ting Mortensen. Tusculum's first shot of the match, and the only one it would put on goal all evening, was off the foot of Brooke Radcliffe in the 23rd minute and saved by the Knights' Elyssa Francis.
Following the goal by Steinke, the Pioneers had three shot attempts over the next three minutes but the Knights' defense was able to block each try. In the second half, Bellarmine outshot Tusculum by an 11-0 margin as Mortensen made two saves for the Pioneers to keep the margin at one goal.
The Knights had an 11-3 advantage in corner kicks while the Pioneers had a slim 11-10 edge in fouls. Mortensen played all 90 minutes in her Pioneer debut and finished the match with seven saves.
Tusculum will continue on the road on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Young Harris, starting at 7 p.m.