BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — The Montreat College women's soccer team earned a 6-0 victory over Bryan College on Monday evening in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup. The Cavaliers controlled the attack, recording 15 shots on goal while limiting the Lions to four. With the result, Montreat improved to 5-7-0 overall (3-6-0 AAC), while BC fell to 1-12-1 (0-9-0 AAC).
The Cavs set the tone early as Rebeca Cruz Manon found the back of the net in the third minute for her fifth goal of the season. The hosts continued to pressure the visitors, with Natalie Hall creating opportunities before Maddie Ellis earned a corner kick and Cruz Manon threatened again with a header. Hall then scored twice in the 16th and 17th minutes, with assists from Ellis and Katie Burton. The home side carried that 3-0 advantage into halftime while simultaneously holding a 12-4 edge in shots.
Anna Weissenfluh preserved the shutout with a save in the 52nd minute before Montreat created additional chances through Jocelyn Stanley, Cruz Manon and Ellis. The Cavaliers maintained the pressure, earning another corner kick in the 61st minute. Hall completed her first career hat trick in the 71st minute with an unassisted strike, marking her sixth goal of the campaign.
Less than two minutes later, Leigh Harpel found the net off a Burton assist, giving the midfielder her second assist of the game. Kelsey Wiggins added to the lead in the 80th minute with her first collegiate goal. The Lions threatened late with three shots, including one that struck the crossbar and another that was stopped by Weissenfluh, but Montreat held on to secure the 6-0 victory and clean sheet.
"One of the points we emphasized before the game was togetherness," said Head Coach Kristin Eggert. "Whether that was in the attack, getting runners in the box and even on the defensive side of things, the team took that to heart, pushing into those spaces together, and we found a way to put the ball into the back of the net."
Hall recorded a career-high three goals and led the Cavs with seven shots, including four on target. Burton also set a personal-best with two assists while adding three shots, two of which were on frame. Cruz Manon contributed a goal and finished with four shots, putting three on target. Wiggins and Harpel each added a goal, and Ellis tacked on an assist to round out the scoring. Weissenfluh played all 90 minutes in net, making four saves to secure the shutout.
Montreat finished with a 29-8 advantage in shots, including a 15-4 edge in shots on goal, and led 6-1 in corner kicks. The Cavs committed 15 fouls, while Bryan was called for four fouls and held a 9-4 advantage in saves.
The Cavaliers return home on Saturday, Oct. 24, to host Brenau University for senior day at Pulliam Stadium in Black Mountain, N.C. Seniors will be honored 25 minutes before the scheduled 2:30 p.m. kickoff.
