BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat College women's soccer team scored a pair of first-half goals en route to securing a 2-0 senior day victory over the Johnson University Royals on Saturday at Pulliam Stadium. After honoring their seven seniors and capturing all three points in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings, the Cavaliers climbed to 7-8-1 (6-6-1 AAC) on the year. Meanwhile, the Royals fell to 5-10-1 (4-9-0 AAC).
 
The first half began with the Cavs establishing early offensive pressure. Sam Aalbue had multiple attempts on goal, including a header that hit the crossbar exactly nine minutes in. Aalbue's persistence eventually paid off when she scored the opening tally, her 10^th of the campaign, just over 21 minutes into the first half. Leigh Harpel picked up an assist on the effort, helping give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
 
Montreat continued to control the game, with Natalie Hall extending the advantage to 2-0 with a goal in the 34^th minute. Rebeca Cruz Manon, one of the seven players honored on Saturday, also captured an assist on the strike.
 
Despite several attempts from the Royals, the Cavaliers held strong on defense and maintained their advantage, closing the half with a 2-0 edge on the scoreboard.
 
The second period started with Montreat continuing to surge forward, creating several opportunities to extend the lead. Early pressure saw Harpel deliver two corner kicks in quick succession, with Madelyn Schultz's attempt narrowly missing the target. Defensive efforts were highlighted by Anna Weissenfluh's save in the 57^th minute, denying a close attempt by Johnson.
 
Maggie Hypes and her fellow teammates registered additional tries that nearly found the back of the net. However, JU's netminder managed to keep the away side's deficit at two goals. Ultimately, the match concluded with the hosts preserving their 2-0 lead, despite the Royals' attempts to eliminate the gap.
 
The Cavaliers finished the day with 22 shot attempts, 10 of which were on goal. Johnson totaled eight shots throughout the match, including two on target. Montreat notched 11 corner kicks across 90 minutes of play compared to visitors' four.
 
Aalbue scored the game-winning goal while leading the team with ten shots, three of which were on target. Hall also found the back of the net with her only shot of the match. Harpel contributed an assist and recorded four shots, including three on frame. Cruz Manon added an assist and attempted two shots, with one landing on goal. Weissenfluh helped the Cavs complete their sixth clean sheet of the year with two saves.
 
"I love that we were able to get a win on behalf of our seniors," said head coach Kristin Eggert. "Love that we were able to get Sam Aalbue, one of our senior captains, on the score sheet as well."
 
Locked in as the No. 8 seed, the Cavaliers will host the ninth-seeded Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers on Tuesday, Oct. 28 in an AAC Tournament play-in game. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. at Pulliam Stadium in Black Mountain, N.C.