MOUNT OLIVE (Oct. 23) – Senior
Emily Hein and junior
Emma Buda each tallied two goals on Wednesday afternoon, as the Trojans earned a 7-0 victory over Virginia State in non-conference play at Amon Field.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive women's soccer team collected a third consecutive shutout and improved to 7-3-3 overall. It marked the second meeting between the sides this season with the result in late September finishing in a 2-2 draw. Meanwhile, Virginia State drops to 1-9-3 this season while facing four Conference Carolinas opponents during the 2024 schedule.
The Trojans registered the opening goal of the match in the 11th minute after Buda laced a left-footed shot into the net following a failed clearance by the defense to take a 1-0 edge. Four minutes later, Hein delivered a through ball from midfield to find sophomore
Malia Acevedo, who scored her fourth goal of the season to stretch the lead to 2-0. Mount Olive would extend the advantage to 3-0 in the 32nd minute as freshman
Carmellina Chikuse headed home a cross from sophomore
Jada Turner. At the break, UMO held a 12-3 shot advantage and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
Just eight seconds into the second half, Hein chipped a shot over the goalkeeper to extend the lead before scoring again in the 55th minute off an assist by freshman
Halie Keller, 5-0. In the closing minutes of the match, freshman
Sierra Criner notched her second goal of the year following a deep cross into the box from sophomore
Abby Weis at the 84:37 mark, 6-0. Under two minutes later, the Trojans completed the 7-0 win with a goal from Buda, her second of the match, in the 89th minute.
Senior
Cailey Bruni secured the shutout victory at goalkeeper with six saves in 90 minutes of play.
Mount Olive out-shot Virginia State by a 25-8 margin while boasting a 4-1 lead in corner kicks.
The Trojans return to the pitch on Friday, Oct. 25, to face Lees-McRae in Conference Carolinas action at Amon Field with kick-off set for 11:00 a.m.
