SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Oct. 21) – Despite a combined 25 shots attempted over 90 minutes between the sides, the Trojans played to a 0-0 draw at Converse on Saturday evening in Conference Carolinas play.

With the tie, the University of Mount Olive men's soccer team moves to 2-7-4 this season with a 2-5-3 mark in conference action. In the previous two meetings, the matchups ended in a draw after the Trojans won the first meeting in the series back in 2021. Meanwhile, Converse stands at 7-4-3 overall behind a 5-2-3 record in league play.

In the first half, Mount Olive peppered the net with four shots and a corner kick in the opening nine minutes, while each team also had a player issued a yellow card. Senior Kevin Avila laced a shot on goal from outside the box in the 14th minute, but the goalkeeper collected the save. At the 28:06 mark, the Trojans nearly broke the scoreless drought when Avila hit the crossbar from long range. Mount Olive held a 6-3 edge in shots heading into the break.

The Trojans controlled possession in the initial 10 minutes of the second half and tallied four shots with a trio of corner kicks, but were unable to find the back of the net. Junior goalkeeper Axel Engren tallied a pair of saves at the midway point of the half, including an impressive stop at the near post in the 73rd minute. Despite three more shots from the Valkyries in the closing minutes, the contest finished as a draw, 0-0.

Engren collected four saves while playing all 90 minutes between the posts.

Mount Olive held a 13-12 edge in shots while also boasting a 6-5 lead in corner kicks.

UMO returns to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 25, when it travels to face Chowan in divisional play, starting at 3 p.m.