Date Posted: 11/7/2007

KENNESAW, Ga. – Belmont’s Jayme Trocino’s goal, 33 seconds after Jacksonville tied the match, lifted the Bruins past the defending champion Dolphins by the score of 2-1 in the opening quarterfinal match of the 14th Atlantic Sun Women’s Soccer Championship on Wednesday at the Kennesaw State Soccer Complex. The Bruins won their first Championship match in their maiden Championship appearance, having qualified for the first time ever in this, their seventh season in the A-Sun.

Trocino scored her fourth goal of the season on the heels of Jacksonville tying the match on a goal by Devon Dowell. Trocino received Kari Lennon’s centering pass and deposited her shot into the net, beating JU goalkeeper Rebecca Stott.

“Keri [Lennon] took the ball at the line and she did a great job getting past the back and she served a perfect ball into the box and I was able to put it away” Trocino said. “It is just incredible to be here; we’ve made history, we’re the first to make the A-Sun Tournament. We’re here to work hard and make something of it.”

Dowell scored the equalizer on a header off of a corner kick for her second goal of the season.

The Bruins opened the scoring midway through the first half when All-Freshman member Erica Carter scored her team-leading eighth goal in the 21st minute of play. Carter stole a Jacksonville throw-in and scored unassisted.

“It was great to get the go-ahead goal and I thought Erica did a great job of beating them down the right side and getting to the end line,” Head coach Lisa Howe said. “She had crossed two and we hadn’t finished them so I think she decided she was not going to cross anymore and just keep dribbling until she reached the goal.”

Bruins goalkeeper Micaela Crowley, a Second-Team All-Atlantic Sun performer, showed her mettle, making eight saves in the match.

With the win, the Bruins ended a pair of dubious streaks. The No.3 seed had lost its opening-round match in each of the last four Championships and no school had won a match in its inaugural appearance in the A-Sun Championship since Jacksonville won two matches in 1998. Belmont advances to face the second-seeded Mercer Bears. Mercer won the regular-season meeting by 3-2 score in Macon, Ga., on October 14th. The Bears rallied from a one-goal deficit with two in the final 16 minutes.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Related Links:
 • Championship Coverage