FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Maddie Hernandez knocked home her first career goal Saturday night under the lights at Duggins Soccer Stadium, making the sophomore's night a memorable one as her game-winner lifted Methodist over visiting Salem College, 1-0, in a USA South Athletic Conference women's soccer matchup.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Salem, 1-0
Records: Methodist 4-1 (1-0 USA South), Salem 4-6 (0-1)
Location: Duggins Soccer Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams were aggressive with their attack, but the Methodist midfielders and back line were better able to keep the Spirits from mounting much pressure in its attacking third, allowing only four Salem shots with just two reaching the depth of the goalkeepers.
• For the Monarchs, they were able to generate 16 shots total, eight on goal.
• Its 8-2 advantage in shots over first-half action did not translate into a Methodist lead at the half, setting up Hernandez for her second-half heroics.
• The Monarchs gained in advantage in their attacking third, threatening the Salem frame and forcing a corner kick opportunity.
• Harris Barr lofted that set piece from the right corner into the box where it skidded past multiple players and high into the box where an un-marked Hernandez made a run at it from outside the box.
• Her one-touch volley sailed into the upper, right corner of the Salem netting, breaking a scoreless deadlock in the 58th minute.
• Methodist allowed just two Salem shots over the remaining 32 minutes, one saved by goalie Mary Newman in the 63rd, and another blocked by a Monarch defender in the 73rd.

NUMB3RS

• In addition to its large advantage in both shots and shots on goal, Methodist also earned an advantage in possession, shown, in part, by its 5-0 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
• Newman earned the win in goal for the Monarchs, coming up with one save in the second half after taking over at halftime for starting goalie Caley Justice, who made one stop in her half of action.
• Salem goalie Jordan Tomberlin finished with seven saves in taking the loss.
• Tatiana Lourenco-Shiber, Natalia Marshall-Hewitt and Rachel Johnson each rang up multiple shots in the contest. All three finished with two shots on goal.

NEXT UP

• Methodist continues conference action with its next outing, a home contest Tuesday against visiting Pfeiffer University at 6 p.m. at Duggins Stadium.
• Salem, on a four-match losing streak after Saturday night, will seek to end that string Tuesday in a USA South game against visiting Greensboro College.