ADVANCE, N.C.— The Montreat College women's soccer team dominated Carolina University with a 6-0 nonconference victory Tuesday evening at Truist Sports Park. Not only did the Cavaliers notch a season-high in goals scored, but they also secured their first clean sheet of the year. With the triumph, the Cavs improved to 3-4-0 overall. Meanwhile, the Bruins dropped to 1-7-2.
 
Montreat started the first half strong with a quick offensive push, taking two early corner kicks. The momentum continued with Anna Weissenfluh making crucial saves, including stopping a shot in the 5th minute. The Cavaliers then broke through in the 11th minute when Sawyer Kenney scored the first goal of her collegiate career, which was assisted by Maddie Ellis and Kylie Ridings. As a result, Montreat seized a swift 1-0 edge.
 
The visitors maintained pressure, and Sam Aalbue found the back of the net in the 20th minute with an assist from Natalie Hall, doubling the Cavs lead to 2-0. Rebeca Cruz Manon added a third goal in the 33rd minute, assisted by Aalbue, to further solidify Montreat's advantage. Despite Carolina's attempts to respond, including a shot hitting the crossbar, the away side held a commanding 3-0 lead at the end of the first half.
 
"It was a fantastic start," said head coach Kristin Eggert. "The team really applied what the messages have been since last match, and it was a group effort to break the contest open tonight."
 
Both squads took eight shots through 45 minutes of play, but the Cavaliers placed four more of those attempts on frame (7-3). The Cavs also held a narrow 4-3 edge in corner kicks taken. Defensively, Weissenfluh registered a trio of first-half saves.
 
Montreat entered the second period with all the momentum and quickly extended its lead when Hall scored, assisted by Ellis, in the 51st minute. The Cavaliers continued to apply pressure with several shots, and Cruz Manon found the net in the 69th minute, increasing the advantage to 5-0.
 
The offensive onslaught persisted as Roxy Galan-Gomez scored in the 81st minute, with an assist from Katie Burton, marking her first career goal. Montreat maintained control throughout the half, keeping Carolina scoreless and concluding the contest with a decisive 6-0 victory.
 
Across the board, the visitors regularly held the upper hand over the home side. The Cavs wrapped up the contest with more shots (19-16), shots on goal (14-5) and corner kicks (11-7).
 
Weissenfluh anchored the defense with five saves, maintaining a clean sheet during her 74:25 in goal. Cruz Manon led the offensive charge by scoring twice, with all five of her shots landing on target. Hall contributed a goal and an assist, finding the net on one of her two shots. Kenney made the decisive impact by scoring the game-winning goal, converting one of her two tries on frame.
 
Looking ahead, the Cavaliers will host Reinhardt University on Saturday, Sept. 27. The match is set for 2 p.m. at Pulliam Stadium in Black Mountain, N.C.