MOUNT OLIVE (Sept. 11) – Despite scoring in the initial minutes of the contest, the Trojans surrendered a pair of goals in the first half to suffer a 2-1 loss against Catawba in non-conference action at Amon Field on Wednesday night.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men's soccer program falls to 0-2 overall after dropping both matches against South Atlantic Conference (SAC) opponents. The Catawba Indians have claimed three of the last four games in the series and earned their first win in Mount Olive since 2016. Meanwhile, Catawba improves to 1-0-2 this season and was selected sixth in the preseason SAC poll.
At the 2:43 mark of the first half, Mount Olive registered the opening goal of the match as senior
Christen Lugo-Elibox fired a shot into the bottom left corner off an assist from sophomore
Babacar Fall, 1-0. Catawba was awarded a penalty kick in the ninth minute of the match, but senior goalkeeper
Axel Engren made a stellar diving save. At the 12:16 mark, the Catawba Indians tied the contest at 1-1 following a header by Bautista Vecchi-Ramello into the back of the net after Joe Bennett delivered the corner into the box. Catawba would extend its lead in the 25th minute after a failed clearance led to Kheynne One-Vera scoring off an assist from Noah Sapsford, 2-1.
In the second half, the Trojans nearly found the equalizer at the 62:45 mark after Fall missed wide of the net following a string of successful passes in the offensive end. Catawba almost increased its lead in the 71st minute after Vecchi-Ramello blasted a shot into the top-right corner which Engren saved. UMO managed a final scoring opportunity at the 78:51 mark after junior
Juan Gonzalez-Gancedo laced a shot on goal which was stopped by the fingertips of the goalie.
Engren finished the match with eight saves while facing 18 total shots in 90 minutes of play.
Catawba out-shot Mount Olive by an 18-6 margin while boasting a 13-2 advantage in corner kicks.
The Trojans will begin Conference Carolinas play on Saturday, Sept. 14, when they travel to face Erskine at 3:30 p.m.
