Box Score
In the crisp October air the Bruins took the field in a highly anticipated match between the BJU Bruins and the Clearwater Christian College Cougars. The Bruins were riding high after not allowing a goal in their last 360 minutes of play and winning four straight games. The atmosphere was electric as 2,400 fans packed Alumni stadium to watch the two teams play.

From the opening kickoff, the Bruins went right at the Cougars. Less than two minutes into the game, Matt Moore made the Cougars pay for a defensive lapse as he received a through pass from Mark Sterr and scored making it 1-0 for the Bruins. The fans erupted as many of them hadn’t even made it to their seats yet. The stands were a sea of white “Bruin Pride” t-shirts as BJU had their first “White Out” of the season. The energy and enthusiasm was a key motivator for the Bruins as the team rallied around the energy generated by the fans.

In the 18^th minute of the first half, Stephen Lovelace netted a beautiful redirected shot into the back of the net to make it 2-0. Later on in the first half, the Bruins scored two more goals to make it 4-0 at the break. Despite the offensive outburst, the real impressive play came from the Bruins suffocating defense.

“Our defense played great tonight,” Coach McCormick said. “We can work on some ball movement and better decision making but it was good to have some quality finishing.”

The Bruins kept up the intense pressure throughout the second half as the team only allowed 10 shots the whole game. Bruins’ goalie Jon Sandy completed his fifth straight clean sheet as he turned shot after shot aside.

In the 50^th minute, Matt Moore sealed the deal as he scored on a one-on-one fast break opportunity to put the Bruins up 5-0. When the final buzzer sounded, the Bruins had won their fifth straight game and held their fifth straight opponent to a scoreless game.

“The confidence we are building as a team is extremely important,” Coach McCormick said. “As we move closer to the post season confidence is going to be key.”

The Bruins continue to play incredible defense and have grown into a very strong team as we near the end of the season. The Bruins were scheduled to have a game against Tennessee Temple on Saturday at 3 PM following the women’s match but that game has been rescheduled for October 29^th at 7:00 p.m. The women’s match will still be played as scheduled at 1:00 p.m.