YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. (Nov. 7) – After surrendering a goal in the 83rd minute on Thursday night, the Trojans dropped a 2-1 decision at Young Harris in the opening round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive women's soccer program closes the 2024 campaign with a 7-5-5 overall record and made their second appearance in the postseason under second-year head coach
Glad Bugariu. It marked the first meeting between the sides with Young Harris starting its second year in the league. Meanwhile, the Mountain Lions improve to 9-5-3 this season after capturing the Southwest Division Champion in the Conference Carolinas.
The Trojans started the matchup with four shots in the initial 15 minutes of the first half, including an attempt from senior
Olivia Womack that hit the crossbar. Young Harris managed to take a 1-0 lead at the 17:29 mark after Shania Harris blasted a shot from long range that found the top corner of the goal. Senior goalkeeper
Samantha Gildner responded with a pair of saves to keep the Trojans within one goal. In the 27th minute, senior
Tianna Hill maneuvered the ball down the end line before delivering a pass to junior
Addison Dangler, who scored her second goal of the season, 1-1. The Mountain Lions nailed the crossbar late in the first half before UMO had a pair of shots saved in the final minutes.
In the second half, Mount Olive registered three total shots, including a pair on goal in the opening six-plus minutes. Both sides exchanged shots through the midway points of the half before the Young Harris pressured offensively multiple times beyond the 78th minute. The Mountain Lions eventually found the game-winning goal at the 82:26 mark off a goal from Anita Roese to secure the postseason victory.
Gildner finished with five saves while facing 13 total shots in 90 minutes between the posts.
Mount Olive out-shot Young Harris by an 18-13 margin while the Mountain Lions held a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
