SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Oct. 12) – Senior
Annefleur Moerkerken contributed to all four goals scored on Saturday afternoon, as the Trojans captured a significant 4-3 victory on the road against Converse in South Atlantic Conference (SAC) play.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive field hockey program collects a third straight win to improve to 7-3 overall behind a 6-2 mark in league action. The Trojans have won four of the last five meetings in the series and returned to Spartanburg for the first time since the 2022 SAC Championship game. Meanwhile, Converse falls 6-2 this season with a 4-2 record in conference play.
Moerkerken set a new Mount Olive record with three assists in a single game while finishing the contest with five total points (one goal, three assists). She currently paces the SAC with eight assists while starting all 10 games.
Following a slow start from both sides, the Valkyries scored the first goal at the 11:00 mark as Amparo Figueroa worked around the defender and found the right side of the net, 1-0. In the second quarter, the Trojans tied the contest at the 20:17 mark as Moerkerken received the penalty corner before shifting past two defenders and netting her fourth goal of the season, 1-1. Just 31 seconds later, Converse regained the lead with a second goal by Figueroa, who deflected the shot into the cage off a pass by Chelsy Bunse. Mount Olive continued to pressure in the offensive end with four shots and two penalty corners before sophomore
Jemimah Kriechelberg scored a loose ball off a block with Moerkerken awarded an assist at the 25:54 mark, 2-2. At the break, UMO held a 9-2 lead in shot while boasting a 6-1 edge in penalty corners.
In the opening minutes of the third quarter, sophomore
Rosie Migounoff scored in front of the left side of the cage off a pass by Moerkerken, 3-2. Mount Olive dominated the remainder of the quarter with a 5-0 lead in shots and penalty corners. The Trojans extended the advantage to 4-2 in the fourth as Migounoff directed her second goal of the contest into the net with Moerkerken registering the record-breaking assist at the 51:03 mark. The Valkyries cut into the deficit at the 53:28 mark with a goal by Sage Pilarski, 4-3. The Trojans would lock down defensively for the final six-plus minutes to secure the victory.
Graduate student goalkeeper
Alanna Barrett earned the win and recorded one save in 60 minutes of action.
The Trojans finished with a 21-5 advantage in shots while posting a 13-2 edge in penalty corners.
Mount Olive returns to Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on Wednesday, Oct. 16, to face Wingate in conference play at 3 p.m.
