Chattanooga Mocs close out non-conference play with 4-2 win over Belmont Bruins

Courtesy: GoMocs.com
The Chattanooga women’s soccer team celebrated its alumni with a 4-2 win over Belmont in the final non-conference matchup of the season Sunday afternoon at Finley Stadium.

A contingent of former players from the Mocs 30 seasons gathered for the game and were recognized at halftime.

The Mocs improve to 6-2-1 and snapped the Bruins unbeaten streak at four games, dropping Belmont to 2-2-4 overall.

Reese Wilson picked up her first goal, heading in the shot off a free kick from Zoey Mize in the 21st minute. Belmont didn’t take long to knot it up with a goal in the 24th minute.

Freshman Emma Reeves entered the game and less than a minute later scored her first collegiate goal and put the Mocs up 2-1. Paige Thomas sent a pass in from the deep left corner. Belmont’s keeper stretched out to make the grab, but it was just out of her reach and Caroline Richvasky gathered it in for the shot.


The keeper was able to make the stop but Reeves picked up the ball and fired off a shot through the defense for the score. The Mocs led heading into halftime with a commanding 15-1 shots lead.

In the second half, Belmont leveled the score in the 62nd minute on long pass into the box. The Mocs offense, however, surged back.

Paige Thomas picked up a pass down the right side and eluded the defense to get to the middle of the field. She fired off a shot from 25 yards out that hit off a Belmont defender to redirect the ball into the left side of the net for what would prove to be the game winner in the 74th minute.

Chattanooga sealed the win with a penalty kick by Clarissa Salinas two minutes later. Ella Attaway, on her way to pick up a rebounded shot, was pushed down in the box for the penalty in the 76th minute. Salinas booted her shot into the bottom right corner for her second goal of the season.

The momentum was on the Mocs side with UTC outshooting the Bruins 24-4 with 14 shots on goal. Caroline Ekern inched closer to the lead for wins all-time at Chattanooga with the 29th of her career, one behind Stacey Matthiessen (’07). She had one save in the match while Belmont’s Sydney Jones had 10.

Thomas led the Mocs with seven shots, six on goal, Richvalsky contributed five while Dillard fired off four.

Chattanooga returns to action Thursday, Sept. 18 against Wofford at Finley Stadium in the Southern Conference opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and admission is free.

Chattanooga picked up its second win over Belmont in the series history (2-6-1). The Mocs finish the non-conference season at 6-2-1. UTC was 6-2 against non-conference foes in 2023.


Chattanooga recorded more than 20 shots for the first time this season led by Paige Thomas with seven.

Reese Wilson and Emma Reeves each scored their first collegiate goal in the win.

Paige Thomas recorded the game winner, her third this season, and her sixth of the season – second most in the SoCon.

Belmont had only allowed three goals before today’s game. Four is the second-most UTC has scored this season.

Caroline Ekern has 29 career wins. She is one behind Stacey Matthiessen (’07) for the program record.