BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— Back at Pulliam Stadium for the first time since its season opener, the Montreat women's soccer team hosted the No. 6-ranked Life University Running Eagles in a nonconference matchup Saturday afternoon. Behind a pair of first-half strikes and an insurance goal in the second frame, the visitors topped the Cavaliers by a 3-1 final, dropping the hosts to 1-2-0 on the season.
 
Life (4-0-0) wasn't fazed by the 71-minute lightning delay prior to the start of the contest. Four early shots from the Running Eagles nearly broke the scoreless deadlock, but Anna Weissenfluh registered two saves just 2:55 into the showdown to keep the score level.
 
A pair of tallies merely 3:31 apart propped the visitors up 2-0. LU struck first in the 23^rd minute, and it tacked on an additional goal during the 27^th minute to build its lead. Ultimately, Life entered the intermission with that same 2-0 edge.
 
Thirteen of the 14 shot attempts through 45 minutes came from visiting players. The Running Eagles also took six of the seven corner kicks in the period. Weissenfluh totaled five saves during the initial half to prevent the home side's deficit from expanding further.
 
LU's third and final goal came just over 15 minutes into the second half as they established a 3-0 advantage on the scoreboard. Montreat did create opportunities over the latter 45 minutes, however, highlighted by Kayla Roseman's second goal of the year.
 
The Western Carolina University transfer capitalized on a misplayed free kick in Life's 18-yard box. With the ball falling fortuitously to her right leg, Roseman re-directed the bouncing ball into the netting for the Cavs' lone tally of the night. In the end, Roseman's goal with 3:10 remaining wasn't enough as the Running Eagles left Black Mountain, N.C. with a 3-1 nonconference triumph.
 
Life finished the match with more shots (26-10), shots on goal (12-3) and corner kicks (13-3). Meanwhile, Weissenfluh recorded a career-high nine saves in her first start against the NAIA's sixth-ranked team.
 
"We definitely have taken strides forward from match to match," said head coach Kristin Eggert. "We still have some moments to clean up. Thankfully, they are simple fixes. I am excited to get into AAC play."
 
Montreat hops right back on the road next Saturday for its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener at Tennessee Wesleyan University. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Athens, Tenn.