JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Men's Soccer team used a strong second half to sail past Schreiner University on the opening day of the 2023 season. It was a second half effort that proved to be the difference as the Blazers fired home four goals in the final 45 minutes en route to the victory. 

The first half was an even contest with both teams limited in strong chances despite the visitors tallying seven corners. Belhaven ended the first half with seven total shot attempts and a pair of shots on target although neither was especially high-danger.

A decisive counterattack early in the second half jump-started the Blazers going forward as Koby Rhone jumped a pass in the midfield and then swiftly sent Wesley Bloodworth through for his first Belhaven goal in the 47th minute. 

Just past the hour mark, the Blazers got their second as a free kick into the box took a couple of deflections before dropping in front of Igor Rudolph who was free at the post. Rudolph was able to squeeze the ball across the goal-line in the 64th minute.

Freshman Courtland Williams bagged his first career goal in the 74th minute as Christian Hernandez won a header in the midfield and sent Adrian Sanchez behind the Schreiner defense. Sanchez held off Mountaineers' defender and Williams buried a half-volley in the bottom left corner.

The exciting second half was capped by veteran defender Jake Estes who pounced on a rebound of a saved shot at the back-post and grabbed the fourth goal of the night for the Blazers. Belhaven out-shot 20-8 in total and 10-3 in shots on target. In the second half shots were 13-1 in favor of the Blazers showing their dominance in the period.

Looking to build off the win, Belhaven returns to action on Thursday, September 7th when they travel to Longview, Texas to take on LeTourneau University. 

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