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WSOatIllColl-180902-JonesHa battle
David Malamut, d3photography.com
3
Winner Methodist MUW (4-4-0, 1-1-0 USAS)
2
N.C. Wesleyan NCW (2-6-0, 1-1-0 USAS)
Winner
Methodist MUW
(4-4-0, 1-1-0 USAS)
3
Final
2
N.C. Wesleyan NCW
(2-6-0, 1-1-0 USAS)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Methodist MUW 0 3 3
N.C. Wesleyan NCW 2 0 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson

Jones Curls In Free Kick for Game Winner

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.   All-conference defender Haley Jones' first career goal lifted Methodist women's soccer on the road over host N.C. Wesleyan, 3-2, Wednesday afternoon in USA South Athletic Conference action.

It was a tale of two halves as the Monarchs trailed 2-0 entering the intermission. But the Methodist defense stiffened and held the Battling Bishops to only two shots over the last 45 minutes, after allowing eight shots in the first half, while the Methodist offense came alive with three goals in the last frame.

Only refer to Haley Jones as the "SET PIECE MASTER" (yes, all caps) from now on after she showed N.C. Wesleyan what "Bend It Like Beckham," or in this case, like Haley Jones means, curling a free kick around a wall of two defenders and beating the diving Bishops' keeper for the game-winning goal in the 84th minute. There was no better time for the first career goal for the senior, nor will you find a prettier first goal.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. N.C. Wesleyan, 3-2
Records: Methodist 4-4 (1-1 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 2-6 (1-1)
Location: Scalf Field; Rocky Mount, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The SET PIECE MASTER's free kick score came after N.C. Wesleyan's Sarah Cook was assessed a yellow card for her foul.
  • Anna Rose Sink tied the game at 2-all in the 62nd minute off a Haley Bowles' corner kick. The Monarchs were given the corner after Laura Harris' shot caromed off the crossbar and then a N.C. Wesleyan defender.
  • In the 57th minute, five minutes before the equalizer, Aiden Sherry put Methodist on the scoreboard with her second goal of the season.
  • The Battling Bishops began the game with a frenzied pace as the Monarchs' Maggie Hunt faced four shots within the first two minutes. Hunt earned one save and another was credited to the team before Manuela Cano scored in the second minute with perfect placement,  a shot over Hunt that may have clipped the crossbar before going in.
  • Kiley Way had an early chance to equalize in the 34th minute but her rocket of a shot ricocheted off the crossbar. The Bishops' goalie had no chance, otherwise. It was Harris that had set Way up.
  • With 7.6 seconds left before the end of the first half, Cydney Nichols upped the Bishops' lead to 2-0 with a goal that some may have thought would have been a dagger.

STAT FACTS
  • Aiden Sherry led the Monarchs with four shots, all on goal. She had three shots in the first half but only needed one shot for one goal in the second.
  • The SET PIECE MASTER put both her shots on frame in this game. For the season, she is now a perfect five-for-five on shots on target.
  • The Bishops' Alicia Jacobs earned seven saves after facing 16 but it was not enough today.

UP NEXT
  • The Monarchs are on the road for a conference matchup against Greensboro College Saturday at 1 p.m.
  • N.C. Wesleyan travels to Staunton, Virginia, Saturday to take on Mary Baldwin at 12 p.m.
    
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