MOUNT OLIVE (Oct. 26) – For the second time this season, the University of Mount Olive field hockey team suffered a double-overtime loss to Limestone by a 1-0 margin on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex.
With the loss, the Trojans drop to 8-5 this season with a 7-4 record in conference play. Mount Olive has three remaining games in the regular season with five schools battling for the top two seeds to earn a bye into the semifinals. Meanwhile, the Saints improve to 9-5 overall behind an 8-3 record in league action.
Despite surrendering two shots in the initial six minutes of the match, the Saints totaled four shots and three corners in the first quarter. The Trojans responded in the second quarter with a 3-2 edge in shots while tallying a 4-1 edge in corners. The two sides went into the break scoreless with both sides totaling six shots and four corners.
In the third quarter, freshman goalkeeper
Lola Muñoz de Verger registered a pair of saves in the opening eight minutes as the sides remained deadlocked. In the final quarter of regulation, Mount Olive controlled possession with a 3-1 edge in shots, but ultimately the contest was forced into overtime.
In the first overtime, freshman
Nakai Mujaranji just missed wide of the cage at the 66:53 mark before senior
Jule Schuurman had a penalty stroke saved in the final seconds. The Saints would escape with the 1-0 victory at the 72:24 mark as Katie Sharron redirected a pass from Nicole Naude through the goalkeeper's legs to secure the double-overtime win.
Muñoz de Verger finished with five saves on 12 shots faced in her second career start in the cage.
Mount Olive out-shot Limestone by a 13-12 margin while also boasting an 8-6 edge in corners.
The Trojans continue league play tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 27, when they host Lander at Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex at 1 p.m.
