BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat women's soccer team fired on all cylinders during its season opener on Tuesday night, racing past Warren Wilson College to a 6-0 victory.
 
It took nearly 20 minutes for both teams to fully settle into the match, but once the Cavs found their groove, it was all Montreat from there.
 
In the 20^th minute, Jackie Montes spurred the attack with a through ball to Isabel Aguilar, who sent a cross into the box. Hayden Bunn found her way onto the end of that cross for the match's and season's opening goal.
 
"I think overall today our team did really well in the attack," said sophomore midfielder Hayden Bunn. "We really found each other's feet, and we made good combinations around the opponents."
 
Within nine minutes, the Cavs would tack on three more goals. Montes, who had an assist on the first goal, capitalized on some great combination play from Aguilar and Bunn to snag her first goal of the 2021 campaign.
 
Montes played a direct role in Montreat's third goal of the match, a corner kick toward the far post that defender Mackenzie Starnes drove home. 
 
On the fourth goal, another defender found her way onto the scoresheet. Using a quick give-and-go sequence in the 29^th minute, Kaitlyn Adams fed Zoe Frenier's run up the left side of the attack. Frenier's strike had just enough pace to get through the fingertips of Warren Wilson goalkeeper Carrigan Causby and into the net.
 
Holding a 4-0 lead at halftime, the Cavaliers came out searching for more offense in the second half. They found what they were looking for as two attackers followed up their first half sequences with some spectacular goals.
 
Bunn tallied her season-opening brace and the Cavs' fifth goal of the match in the 58^th minute. Maria Camilo dropped off a pass for Bunn on the edge of the box, who then turned and dipped a shot up-and-over Causby and into the side-netting. 
 
Just over two minutes later, Montes found her second and team's sixth goal on a splendid strike. Near the edge of the penalty box, Montes found the perfect angle and slotted her shot just inside the far post.
 
A goal-less closing half-hour helped the Cavs see out a 6-0 shutout, the program's first season-opening clean sheet since Aug. 17, 2013. It also ensured Kristin Eggert's first win as head coach of the Montreat College women's soccer team.
 
Coach Eggert noted, "I was really proud of the women's performance tonight on both sides of the ball to keep the clean sheet all the way throughout. We had a lot of contributions from different players, and we moved the ball well, had some good combination play and did well in our defensive shape."
 
Sitting at 1-0 on the season, Montreat College women's soccer takes to the pitch again at Truett McConnell University on Sept. 11, both their first conference and road match of the year.