BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— Competing in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) match against the Bryan College Lions at Pulliam Stadium Saturday evening, the Montreat women's soccer team potted a pair of goals to claim a 2-0 triumph. With the result, the Cavaliers moved their overall record to 2-2 and advanced to 2-1 in AAC play.
 
Montreat dominated possession and control of the competition for the entirety of the first half. The Cavaliers took just nine minutes to register their initial shot attempt, while Hayden Bunn placed a pair of tries on target within the opening 15 minutes.
 
Following two more shots on goal, the Cavs struck with the icebreaker midway into the frame. In the 20^th minute, a bouncing clearance by the Bryan defense was met with Bunn's right foot on the half volley just outside of the box. Bunn's shot curled into the top right corner of the net, eluding the outstretched hands of the Lions' keeper to put the home team up 1-0.
 
"We've been working on combinations in the final third and on one or two touch passing to find a crack on goal. Tonight, I really feel like we saw that working for us, and that's exactly what happened on the first goal," said Bunn.
 
The Cavaliers continued to generate offensive chances for the remainder of the first period; however, despite an 8-0 advantage in shots and a 4-0 edge in corner kicks, Montreat could not extend its lead before the intermission.
 
Bryan (1-3-1, 0-2 AAC) did register its first shot attempt in the 64^th minute and its lone shot on target in the 84^th minute, but stout defensive pressure from the Cavaliers forced constant turnovers from the Lions' back line.
 
That pressure resulted in a second tally from the Cavs as Bunn doubled Montreat's lead in the 81^st minute. The Orange Park, Fla. native intercepted a clearance attempt, took a touch to settle the ball and fired a shot off the Bryan keeper and into the right side of the net for her second goal of the game and third of the season.
 
Overall, the Cavaliers outshot the Lions 16-3, 11-1 on goal, while dominating the corner count in the contest (5-1) thanks to a tremendous disparity in possession. Logan White recorded one save in the team's second consecutive shutout.
 
"We've been talking about having a two-touch mentality and moving the ball quickly," mentioned head coach Kristin Eggert. "I think we were really effective when we were able to transition, play from one side of the field to the other and start to find gaps and seams playing balls on the ground," she ended.
 
Women's soccer travels to Columbia College on Wednesday for its next matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.