ETTRICK, Va. (Sept. 25) – Playing its second match in as many days, the University of Mount Olive women's soccer program competed to a 2-2 tie against Virginia State on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action.
With the draw, the Trojans move to 2-1-3 this season and will prepare for their third match of the week this Saturday, Sept. 28 at King in league play. The matchup today marked the first meeting between the sides in team history. Meanwhile, VSU stands at 0-5-1 overall while competing against three Conference Carolinas opponents.
Virginia State logged a trio of shots in the initial 18-plus minutes of the contest, but Mount Olive was the first team to score. At the 22:25 mark, freshman
Halie Keller registered her first collegiate goal off an assist by fellow freshman
Sierra Criner. Both sides would exchange shots over the following 10 minutes before UMO added to its lead. Senior
Emily Hein pounced on a bad clearance by the goalkeeper and buried her first goal of the season in the 36th minute to hold a 2-0 edge at the break.
In the second half, the Trojans maintained possession with three shots on goal, but VSU managed to answer back at the 68:36 mark. Virginia State earned a free kick from 20 yards out and Alana Martin fired it into the top-left corner, 2-1. Just five minutes later, VSU was awarded a penalty kick in the 73rd minute and tied the contest at 2-2 following a goal from Morgan Paris. Mount Olive registered six shots in the closing minutes with the match ultimately finishing in a draw.
Senior
Cailey Bruni earned the start and collected a career-high six saves in 90 minutes of action.
The Trojans finished with an 18-14 shot advantage while VSU held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Mount Olive returns to Conference Carolinas action this Saturday, Sept. 28, to face King on the road with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
