FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist was able to open up some breathing room in early second-half action Saturday, using five unanswered goals to break away from visiting Brevard College in an eventual 14-11 USA South Athletic Conference victory at Monarch Stadium.

Methodist never trailed in the game, beginning with Alaijah Ward's score three minutes after the opening draw. But the Tornados were able to keep pace across most of the first half's 30 minutes, knotting up the game on four occasions until consecutive Monarch goals near the end of the half allowed the home team to carry a 6-4 lead into the break.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Brevard, 14-11
Records: Methodist 2-2 (1-0 USA South), Brevard 1-3 (0-1)
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game turned after Autumn Kraemer scored the opening goal of the second half, pulling Brevard to within a goal, 6-5, just 26 seconds into the period.
• It was then that Keegan Foyles scored three consecutive goals for Methodist to build a cushion that would continue to grow with a Rosa Williams goal followed by a Sarena Pillow score. The 5-0 run took just under five minutes to complete.
• Another Kraemer goal halted the Monarch string, but Foyles answered with another marker to slow the Tornados' come-back hopes.
• Hopes that were revitalized, though, in a four-minute span in which Brevard scored three time to climb back into the game, now trailing only 12-9 with exactly 10 minutes to play.
• Taylor Mustian scored 26 seconds later to dampen the Brevard spirit, and Williams added one more tally -- her double-hat-trick sixth of the afternoon -- that helped drive in the nail.
• Brevard did score twice more, but the Monarchs used possession to bleed the clock for most of the remaining four minutes.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Williams had a career day for Methodist with her six-goal outing -- five coming on free-position opportunities. Her only other goal this season had come way back in the first game of the season. The freshman also added an assist for a seven-point day.
• Foyles was outdone only by Williams, scoring four times and dishing out a pair of assists for a six-point afternoon.
• Pillow also finished with a multi-goal game, scoring twice, while also contributing 10 draw controls, 4 ground balls and 3 caused turnovers.
• Goalkeeper Jem Golombeski had six saves in the victory and also came up with four ground balls and registered one caused turnover.
• Kraemer's six goals and one assist led the Tornado attack in defeat.
• Brevard goalie Carlie Henning had a busy day at the office, coming up with 10 saves to keep her team in the game.
• As most often happens, draw control numbers reflected on the final outcome as Methodist accumulated a 15-11 edge in the contest.
• The Methodist attack pressured Henning often across the two halves, pushing the Brevard defense into allowing 10 free-position chances.

UP NEXT

• The Monarchs step back out of conference play with their next game, a Tuesday visit from Transylvania (Ky.) University that starts at 4 p.m. in Monarch Stadium.
• Brevard continues a weekend road trip that continues Sunday with a USA South game at Meredith College.