LAURINBURG, N.C.— The Montreat women's soccer team controlled almost every aspect of the game and Sydney Jordan scored three times as the Cavaliers notched their first win of the 2022 season with a 4-0 road triumph over the St. Andrews University Knights. Following Wednesday afternoon's result in Laurinburg, N.C., Montreat improved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.
 
The Cavs held possession for much of the first half, dominating play in the opening period; however, quality touches in the attacking third were limited. Though the Cavaliers outshot St. Andrews 11-2 in the first 45 minutes, only two of the visiting team's chances landed on target.
 
In the 40^th minute, the Cavalier offense struck paydirt. After adjusting positions within the formation, Montreat created several dangerous opportunities, including the icebreaker with 5:13 to go before the intermission. Sam Aalbue started the attack, pushing up the left side prior to sending a searching ball across the field to Jordan, who sprinted through the SAU defense on the right. Jordan took a well-weighted first touch and blasted a shot into the left side netting for the Cavs' initial goal of the year.
 
The Cavaliers continued their impressive showing over the final 45 minutes, stringing together passes and keeping possession en route to a complete performance.
 
Only 3:48 into the latter period, Montreat doubled its advantage thanks to an aggressive attacking presence. The Cavs linked passes through the midfield following a turnover by the Knights in their defensive third. At the top of the box, Charlotte Craver was tackled by an SAU defender and the ball squirted loose in the penalty area. Thinking quickly, Hayden Bunn jumped on the waiting ball and kissed it off the left post and into the net.
 
Head coach Kristin Eggert mentioned the difference in the Cavaliers' approach, physically and mentally. "We worked on our decision-making to generate quality goal-scoring opportunities and we saw both an increase in the number of chances generated as well as an increase in the amount of chances finished," said Eggert. "Our team did well to find ways to solve the problems the game presented and put some in the back of the net," she ended.
 
Montreat added a third in the 84^th minute when a Cav was fouled in the penalty area. Jordan stepped up and finished cleanly from the spot for her second tally of the afternoon.
 
Pressure on the St. Andrews defense resulted in the fourth and final tally of the day for the Cavaliers exactly three minutes after the penalty. Annika Comendador intercepted a clearance attempt and immediately fed Jordan, who took a touch on her right foot and curled a shot from just outside the box into the left side of the goal to complete her first career hat-trick in the 87^th minute.
 
"I'm happy we had an overall great team performance as well as getting our first conference win [of the year]," stated Jordan. "Now we are ready to tackle the rest of the season."
 
Defensively, Logan White stopped the only shot on goal she faced to earn the initial shutout of her career. Montreat registered 23 shot attempts to SAU's four, while the Cavaliers placed 10 shots on frame.
 
Women's soccer returns to Pulliam Stadium for its next contest, a matchup with Bryan College, on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.