UMO falls in battle of conference unbeatens

TIGERVILLE, S.C. – The University of Mount Olive women’s soccer team was unable to overcome an early first-half goal before suffering a 2-0 loss at North Greenville in Conference Carolinas action Friday, Sept. 30.

With the loss, the Trojans saw their six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 7-4 overall with a 5-1 mark in league play. Both teams entered the contest 5-0 in conference, with UNC Pembroke also holding an undefeated record at the top of the league table. Meanwhile, the Crusaders improved to 7-2-1 this season and have a 7-0 record in conference action.

North Greenville scored on its initial shot of the match after graduate student Romee Contreras beat her defender and the goalkeeper to take a 1-0 advantage in the 13th minute. Mount Olive nearly tied the game at the 37:38 mark after following a blocked shot, sophomore forward Delia Allwood had an attempt sail just over the crossbar. In the 43rd minute, freshman midfielder Addison Dangler fired a shot from outside the box that rattled the left post, but the Trojans were unable to capitalize. UMO managed two shots in the closing minutes of the first half, but North Greenville maintained its one-goal lead at the break.

In the second half, the Crusaders tallied a pair of shots on goal in the opening 10-plus minutes before Dangler saw a shot miss high left on the counterattack in the 56th minute. Near the midway point of the half, Mount Olive had three more shots, including two on goal, but the Crusader goalie kept the Trojans scoreless. At the 84:38 mark, North Greenville sealed the victory after a cross into the box was volleyed into the net by sophomore Jada Patrick, 2-0.

Senior goalkeeper Nicole Solicito finished with four saves on nine shots attempted in 90 minutes of play on Friday.

The Trojans out-shot the Crusaders by a 19-9 margin, including an 8-6 edge in shots on goal, while also posting a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.