September 14, 2007

JACKSON -- Senior midfielder Kathryn Brusco netted her team-leading fifth and six goals of the season within the first 19 minutes and the Blazers withstood a strong attack from Millsaps in the second half to hang on for a 3-2 win at Harper Davis Field Friday evening.

In a physical contest, Belhaven (4-4, 0-1 GCAC) lit up the scoreboard first, scoring just 8:03 into the game off a well crossed ball from sophomore Dana Sullivan to Brusco to beat Majors goalkeeper Elizabeth Sooby. It marked the first of two assists on the night for Sullivan and first of two goals on the night for Brusco.

Millsaps (2-2) cut into a 2-0 deficit in the 29th minute when senior Lauren Rochelle played a nice ball into the box for sophomore Leslie Robichaux. Playing in her first home game for the Majors after transferring in from Ole Miss, Robichaux beat Belhaven keeper Kristin Parson to the left to cut the lead to 2-1 and record her first goal for Millsaps.

The Blazers took a 3-1 lead into the half after Sullivan connected with fellow sophomore Evelyn Torres off a corner kick with 2:14 left in the period.

The Majors narrowed the gap to 3-2 early in the second half when Robichaux blasted a ball from 25 yards out unassisted to beat Parson in the upper righthand corner.

After earning five corner kicks over a 19 minute span and keeping continued pressure on the Belhaven defense, Millsaps forced several turnovers by the Blazers and nearly capitalized to tie the game in the 79th minute.

Hayley Barber found herself one-on-one with the keeper deep in the Belhaven box before Parson stepped out of her crease to make the stop and add to her five saves on the night.

That's how the game would end as the Blazers kept the ball in Millsaps territory the final 4:36 of regulation to even their season record at 4-4 on the year.

The Majors out shot the Blazers 15-12 on the night and earned three more corners while the two teams combined for 30 fouls and a pair of yellow cards late in the game.

Millsaps will try and get back in the win column on Sunday, hosting in-state foe and Division I nemesis Alcorn State University at 2 p.m. on Harper Davis Field.