SIGNATURE WIN: After opening the USA South Athletic Conference schedule with a loss to Pfeiffer, the Monarchs redeemed themselves with a conference victory over North Carolina Wesleyan, but that win did not come easily. Head coach
Bryan Madej's squad showed some early season resolve by recovering from a 2-0 halftime deficit on the road to win 3-2 at NCW. You would not have been blamed if you thought the Battling Bishops' second goal, four seconds before halftime, would function as the dagger to Methodist. However,
Aiden Sherry got the Monarchs on the board in the 57th minute, and
Anna Rose Sink tied the game in the 62nd. The Methodist defense stiffened up and held N.C. Wesleyan to just two second half shots while
Haley Jones eventually won the game for the Monarchs in the 84th minute. Jones' goal was a beauty, a real candidate for goal of the year on the team as she curled a free kick around a wall of defenders and past a diving goalkeeper for the win.
SEASON NOTES: The Monarchs' 8-7-1 record gave Coach Madej his seventh season above .500 … Its 4-3-1 USA South record earned Methodist a postseason bid as the fourth seed in the East Division … After defeating visiting William Peace, 1-0, in the first round of the conference tournament, host Maryville (Tenn.) derailed the Monarchs in the quarterfinals… It was the sixth consecutive season that Methodist advanced to at least the quarterfinals of the conference tournament …
Laura Harris led the Monarchs with six goals, including three game-winners, and 15 points as a freshman …
Miranda Gay finished with five goals and 12 points while
Bella Nunu's four goals and four assists gave her 12 points as well, tied for second on the team …
Aiden Sherry's five assists were a team high … Nine different Monarchs scored multiple goals for the year …
Maggie Hunt made 15 starts in goal, en route to an 8-5-1 goalie record with 51 saves against 24 goals allowed. Hunt earned two solo shutouts in addition to two combined shutouts.
POST-SEASON AWARDS:
LOOKING AHEAD: Coach Madej has a lot of production and experience to replace in the form of seven graduates --
Haley Jones,
Ally Nagel,
Haley Bowles,
Bella Nunu,
Sierra Swasey,
Miranda Gay and
Anna Rose Sink. Those seven players combined to start 95 games and score 45 points in 2019 alone, including four seniors that started every game in the season. However, Madej has a very talented and experienced group of upperclassmen that he will be able to rely on for leadership on and off the field like juniors Hunt, Sherry, and
Gillian Niesel. Harris returning is cause for celebration as she has the potential to challenge for conference player of the year before her collegiate career is up. In addition to Harris, freshman
Tatiana Lourenco-Shiber flashed her talent when she earned conference rookie of the week honors from the USA South in October. Expect Methodist to extend its streak to seven straight seasons of advancing to the quarterfinals and to be a dark horse for a conference title run, like what the Monarchs accomplished in 2017.
