Ballesteros's Header Lifts Men's Soccer Past Lenoir-Rhyne, 1-0

Belmont Abbey sophomore defender Julian Ballesteros headed home the only goal of the match with six seconds remaining in the first half for the only goal of the match as the Crusaders men's soccer team improved to 9-7-1 with a 1-0 triumph over the visiting Lenoir-Rhyne Bears this afternoon at Alumni Field. L-R falls to 7-6-3 in the defeat.

The Abbey outshot the Bears 5-0 in the first half and controlled much of the play, but it appeared that both teams would head into the lockerroom deadlocked at zero, until a Crusader counter-attack that led to L-R foul set up the only goal of the match.

With ten seconds left in the half, Belmont Abbey fired in a free kick from 25 yards out that was batted around until a failed L-R clear sent the ball right to Ballesteros, who headed home the winner into the right corner of the net for the winner.

The second half was more of a defensive battle, but the Abbey had plenty of scoring chances, the best coming by senior forward Emmanual Yamson with 15 minutes remaining, who redirected a corner kick that banged off the left goalpost.

Abbey netminder Brandon Alvarez collected a pair of saves, as did counterpart Francisco Banuelos.