CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team returns for its conference home opener on Sunday, playing at home for just the second time this season. The Bears face off with the Bellarmine Knights at 4 p.m. at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex, kicking off shortly after the conclusion of the women's game.
 
The Bears (1-6-2, 0-0-1 ASUN) dropped a narrow 3-2 loss at Oral Roberts last time out, going up 2-0 early in the second half before surrendering three-straight before the final whistle. The match, although the final score wasn't ideal, was the first time this season that the Bears have scored multiple times in a match. Maxim Sheenkov and Michael Oliveri each tallied goals, and it was the second-straight scoring output for Sheenkov.
 
Central Arkansas drew in its first ASUN match of the season, a 1-1 draw against Queens. Sheenkov netted his first goal of the season in the outing, getting the Bears a point in the ASUN table.
 
Bellarmine, while providing a tough challenge for the Bears, have never gotten the upper hand, with Central Arkansas holding a 4-0-2 record since the teams joined the ASUN in 2021. Last season, the teams faced off in Louisville, where a Devonte Richards score in the fifth minute proved to be the difference.
 
The Knights (5-2-2, 1-0 ASUN) started the conference season with a 3-0 win over Lipscomb, adding to a streak of shutouts and giving Bellarmine a four-match shutout streak. Over the course of the run, the Knights have outscored their opponents 14-0, including a 7-0 win over Spalding University.
 
Leading the scoring for Bellarmine is sophomore forward Johan Nissen-Lie, who has six goals this season. The Norwegian is one of 12 goal scorers for Bellarmine, and one of three multi-goal scorers. The Knights can also hang their hat on their defense, allowing just seven goals through 12 matches.
 
Kickoff against the Knights is set for 4 p.m. on Sunday. The match will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available online.