BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— Seven different athletes scored for the Montreat women's soccer team Wednesday night, bagging a resounding 7-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) win against the Bluefield University Rams in the process. With the triumph in Black Mountain, N.C., the Cavaliers improved to 6-3 overall and 6-2 in conference action.
 
Isabel Aguilar, one of Montreat's two captains, played a pivotal role in the Cavaliers' first-half offense, registering assists on the first two goals before scoring the third herself. On Montreat's initial goal, which came in the 12^th minute, Hayden Bunn picked out Aguilar in an open pocket in midfield. Aguilar then played the ball back over to Bunn, who took two touches before blasting a shot into the upper left corner of the net.
 
The Cavs' grabbed a 2-0 lead just 10 minutes later, this time off a set piece. Aguilar's corner kick made it past nearly everyone as it bounced through the 18-yard box. Sydney Jordan, who had both time and space near the corner of the penalty area, sized up her chance and rifled a long-range strike into the upper right netting.
 
In the 25^th minute, Aguilar closed out Montreat's scoring for the opening 45 minutes. The Frostproof, Fla. native curled a 20-yard free kick inside the far-left post, building the Cavalier edge out to 3-0.
 
Bluefield (0-11, 0-8 AAC) got onto the scoresheet with 8:58 remaining in the frame, but that was the lone bright spot for the Rams in the first half. Along with a 3-1 lead on the scoreboard, the Cavs owned significant edges in shots (17-3), shots on goal (12-2) and corner kicks (4-1) at the intermission.
 
Montreat continued its offensive onslaught by netting a fourth goal in the 64^th minute. Once again, Aguilar was involved as she received a feed from Bunn in the middle of the field. Aguilar then guided a ball to Sofia Brotherton, who was all alone on the left side of the attacking third. Brotherton dribbled to the edge of the 18-yard box and unfurled a right-footed shot that just snuck between the Bluefield goalie and the near post.
 
Over a span of 2:28 starting in the 69^th minute, the Cavaliers saw three players score their first career goals to vault their advantage out to 7-1. Sam Aalbue commenced the quick scoring spree with a curling shot that glanced off the inside of the right post and into the net. Moments later, Valerie Laurencio capitalized on a friendly deflection and pulled a strike into the left side of the net. Lastly, a ricochet from a Jamie White shot in heavy traffic found its way to Katherine Wombwell, who subsequently finished near the right post from just a few yards out.
 
Up 7-1 with less than 18 minutes to play, the Cavs saw out the remaining time to grab their sixth win of the season overall and in conference play. The seven goals scored were a season high and Montreat's most since Oct. 23, 2021, a 7-0 win over Johnson University (Tenn.) in Black Mountain, N.C.
 
"I was immensely please with our halftime response," said head coach Kristin Eggert. "There were a few details we wanted to sharpen, and the team took care of it. It was exciting to have seven players score tonight, three of whom got their first collegiate goals."
 
As the clock reached 90 minutes of action, the statistical disparity between the Cavaliers and the Rams reached its apex. The Cavs outshot the visitors by 37 (42-5), and they held both a 22-3 shots on goal advantage and a 9-2 corner kick edge. Montreat's 42 shots were the program's most since at least 2004, and the Cavaliers' 22 shots on goal were a program-best since Aug. 24, 2019.
 
The Montreat women's soccer team hopes to piece together another conference win this Saturday against Point University. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. in Black Mountain, N.C.