Mount Olive conquers Converse on Senior Day

MOUNT OLIVE – Behind four goals in the first half, the University of Mount Olive women’s soccer team posted a 5-0 shutout victory over Converse Oct. 15 at Amon Field on Senior Day in Conference Carolinas action.

With the win, the Trojans extended their winning streak to four straight and improved to 11-4 overall with a 9-1 mark in league play. UMO now sits in a tie for first place with North Greenville at 27 points in the conference standings with two matches to play. Meanwhile, the Valkyries fell to 4-11-1 this season with a 1-9-1 mark in conference action.

Mount Olive claimed an early 1-0 advantage in the 16th minute after freshman Addison Dangler scored on a tap-in following a pass chipped over the goalkeeper by sophomore Tianna Hill. At the 30:53 mark, Dangler tallied her second goal of the match after scoring off a rebound off an initial save for a 2-0 Trojan lead. UMO continued to add to the advantage in the closing minutes of the half, as senior Jaclyn Gott delivered a free kick into the box which was headed into the net by fellow senior Maelwenn Gaiffas to extend the UMO lead to 3-0. In the 44th minute, Hill would stretch the lead to 4-0 with her sixth goal of the season.

In the second half, the Trojans remained in control of possession and tallied four shots, including two on goal, in the initial five-plus minutes. Senior Samantha Hamrick scored during a scramble in the box off a corner kick from Gaiffas to give the Trojans a 5-0 advantage at the 51:27 mark. The UMO defense only surrendered two shots in the second half.

Senior goalkeeper Nicole Solicito secured the shutout win behind two saves on three shots attempted in 90 minutes of action. The Trojans have posted shutout wins in their last four matches with Solicito starting all contests during that stretch.

The Trojans out-shot the Valkyries by an 18-3 margin, including a 10-2 edge in shots on goal, while also posting an 11-2 advantage in corner kicks.