CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team dropped an ASUN meeting with Bellarmine Saturday night, falling behind early and being unable to claw back into it.
 
The Bears (3-8-2, 2-1-1 ASUN) came out a little slower than what was needed against a Bellarmine team that hadn't lost at home yet this season, and the Knights capitalized with a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes of play. Pietro Fontana nearly equalized after the first score, putting boot to ball, but the shot went straight at the Bellarmine keeper.
 
As the first half continued, a Bear got a red card on a transition play by the Knights, sending the Bears down to ten men with over an hour left of game play. Late in the first half, this proved fatal, as the Knights scored a third goal before the halftime break.
 
Central Arkansas found some life in the second half, showing more aggression toward getting 50/50 balls and took a couple of early shots. The extra energy paid off, as Lucas Shearer lined up a 58^th-minute corner kick that Elijah Bishop was able to slot into the net, cutting the lead to two. Bellarmine responded with back-to-back scores, making it a 5-1 match in the 76^th minute. The Bears scored one last time on a corner kick in the 85^th, again from Shearer, this time off the foot of Michael Oliveri.
 
The Bears have two games remaining in the regular season, with the final home game coming up next Saturday. Celebrating senior day, the Bears will take on Queens in the last regular season match at the Bill Stephens Complex. Kickoff against the Knights is set for 7 p.m.