FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Fighting for a spot in the semifinal round of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament, the Methodist women's soccer team sailed past the Fighting Squirrels of Mary Baldwin on Tuesday, taking a 5-0 victory. The Monarchs scored less than three minutes into the match for what would eventually be the game-winning goal.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Mary Baldwin, 5-0
Records: Methodist 12-4-1, Mary Baldwin 4-12-2
Location: Duggins Soccer Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- As the 3' mark approached, Methodist secured possession and pushed down the field towards the goal. After an initial touch by Rianna Orello that set the ball up in front of Kelsey Burge, the Mary Baldwin goalkeeper came off her line to defend Burge, who passed the ball across the box to an open Corrine Shovlain. With her left foot, Shovlain effortlessly tapped the ball in for the score.
- Shovlain used her right foot to assist on Methodist's second score, standing near the corner as she sent the ball sailing through the air into the box. A charging Yaneli Sanchez timed her jump just right to head the ball into the net for a goal as the match neared the 15th minute.
- In the second half, it took the Monarchs just over 15 minutes to strike their third score of the match, which had a similar appearance to the goal prior. From near the corner, Orello sent the ball into the box, where Burge stood waiting to head the ball past the keeper.
- On a fast break in the 69th minute, the Monarchs stormed through the defense of Mary Baldwin. Charly Oldham passed the ball ahead to Amanda DeDomenico, who booted the ball into the air towards Sanchez. Using her head, Sanchez directed the ball downward and watched it bounce off the grass and into the goal.
- With under five minutes remaining in the match, a driving Quierra Hawkins pivoted and passed the ball backward to Madison Hoopes, who reared back and delivered a strike that couldn't be stopped.
NUMBERS
- The Monarchs placed six shots on goal, scoring on all but one of those occasions. On the other end of the field, Carolina Simpkins recorded saves on all four of Mary Baldwin's shots on goal.
- With two goals during the match, freshman Yaneli Sanchez now has 14 goals through 17 games this season.
- When Methodist faced the Fighting Squirrels in their regular-season match on Oct. 7, the Monarchs escaped Staunton, Va. with a 1-0 victory. The Monarchs showed vast improvement in Tuesday's dominant five-goal performance.
UP NEXT
Methodist advances to the semifinal round and will host Brevard College on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The match will be part of a double-header as the Methodist men's team also hosts Brevard in the semifinal round of the men's bracket at 6:30 p.m.
