JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore Brandon Tarr (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lead the Belmont men’s soccer team (5-7-0, 2-2-0) to a 3-2 overtime victory over Jacksonville (6-6-1, 1-2-0) on the road on Sunday.  The Bruins also received a goal and an assist from freshman Nico Olsak (Boca Raton, Fla.) to tally their second straight Atlantic Sun victory.

The Dolphins opened up the scoring in the 23rd minute of play when Nedim Hurstic finished off a blocked shot by teammate Davide Faga.  Hurstic put Jacksonville up 1-0 and BU was not able to even the score before halftime.  JU held a 10-3 advantage in shots, and recorded six corner kicks to Belmont’s one in the opening frame.

“In the first half we had a tough time getting our rhythm going,” Head Coach Earle Davidson said.  “Their midfield gave us some trouble.  It was the first time, other than maybe the UAB game, that our midfield wasn’t in complete control.”

After the break Belmont evened things up when Tarr recorded the first of his two goals on the day.  Olsak played a free kick into the box to Tarr, who was flashing towards the near post.  The sophomore forward headed it in to tie the game at 1-1 in the 60th minute.

The Bruins took their first lead of the match just over 14 minutes later.  Junior Will Moorad (Brentwood, Tenn.) headed a ball down into the box, where Olsak volleyed the ball at Jacksonville goalkeeper Johnny Foley.  After Foley deflected it back out, Olsak finished it into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

“At halftime we said that we were going to have to win this with character,” Davidson said.  “We didn’t play our usual game, but we adapted to our surroundings, stepped out of our comfort zone, and got a good result on the road.  We showed a lot of character tonight.”

Hurstic recorded his second score of the game, tying the game again in the 82nd minute of play.  Daniele Campailla and Darko Karamatic assisted on the play that made it 2-2 just before the end of regulation.

With only six minutes remaining in the second overtime period, Tarr left his mark on the contest once again, tallying his team leading sixth goal of the season.  Junior Alex Davis (Rockwell, Texas) threw the ball into the offensive area, where sophomore Sam Miller (Gilbert, Ariz.) kept things alive, heading it into the box.  Freshman defender Charlie Dankert (Carmel, Ind.) then made the intelligent play of heading it back across the box to an open Tarr, who volleyed it past Foley to give Belmont the 3-2 victory.

Jacksonville finished with a 26-15 shot advantage over Belmont and recorded eight total corner kicks to BU’s three.  The Bruins’ goalkeeper Lou Manning tallied a season-best 10 saves on the afternoon to keep Belmont on top, while Foley recorded three for the Dolphins.

“It is sensational getting six points on the weekend,” Davidson concluded.  “This is a tough road trip in Jacksonville, so to come away with two wins is great.  This puts us right up at the top of the conference.  We are in good shape heading into the rest of the A-Sun season.”

Belmont will next return home for three straight matches.  Lipscomb comes to Whitten Soccer Complex on October 14, followed by ETSU and USC Upstate on October 22 and 24, respectively.