MOUNT OLIVE (Oct. 25) – Behind three goals in just under six minutes in the second half on Friday afternoon, the Trojans secured a 4-1 victory over Lees-McRae at Amon Field in Conference Carolinas action.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's soccer program is undefeated in its last three matches and improves to 4-4-4 this season with a 3-2-4 record in league play. The Trojans claimed their first victory over the Bobcats since 2021. Meanwhile, Lees-McRae drops to 4-4-5 overall behind a 4-3-3 mark in conference action.
Mount Olive established a 1-0 advantage at the 15:15 mark of the first half after senior
Guilherme Semola peppered a shot into the left-side of the goal off an assist from sophomore
Babacar Fall. Just 40 seconds later, the Bobcats quickly tied the contest at 1-1 after Harrison Watts got around the UMO goalie and scored on the open net. In the 25th minute, the Trojans were awarded a penalty kick off a handball in the box, but the shot was ultimately saved to keep the contest tied. At halftime, Mount Olive held a 5-4 edge in shots while LMC boasted a 4-0 lead in corner kicks.
In the second half, UMO regained the advantage in the 66th minute with a goal from sophomore
Manny Duran off a free-kick from just outside the right-side of the box, 2-1. Just two-plus minutes later, junior
Juan Gonzalez-Gancedo delivered a cross into the box before freshman
Nicolas Arze-Ynsua netted his second goal of the season to extend the lead to 3-1. The Trojans sealed the win in the 71st minute as Semola scored his second goal with an assist awarded to junior
Joao Barboza Filho, 4-1.
Senior goalkeeper
Axel Engren collected five saves in the victory while playing all 90 minutes.
The Trojans finished with a 16-11 advantage in total shots while the Bobcats held a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.
Mount Olive returns to divisional play on Tuesday, Oct. 29, when it hosts rival Barton at Amon Field, starting at 7:30 p.m.
