BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — The Montreat College women's soccer team secured a 3-0 nonconference victory over Warren Wilson College on Tuesday evening at Pulliam Stadium. The Cavaliers scored twice before halftime and finished with a 14-6 advantage in shots while keeping the Owls off the scoreboard. With the victory, Montreat improved to 2-4-0 on the season, while WWC fell to 3-4-1.
The Cavaliers created opportunities early, with Leigh Harpel putting a shot on target before the hosts earned a corner kick. Natalie Hall followed with a shot that narrowly sailed high. Nearly six minutes later, Rebeca Cruz Manon opened the scoring at the 12:55 mark, finding the back of the net off a Jocelyn Stanley assist to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
Hall doubled the Cavs' lead in the 22nd minute, slotting home a long-range strike to make it 2-0. The Owls tested the Cavalier defense in response, earning three corner kicks and putting three shots on target, but Anna Weissenfluh turned aside each attempt. The Cavs remained active on the attack late in the half, with Stanley, Bailey Hollomon and Hope Ewing each creating chances before Montreat carried its two-goal advantage into halftime.
Just over five minutes into the second half, Cruz Manon struck again, scoring her second goal of the match and fourth of the season off assists from Hall and Harpel. The Cavaliers continued to generate chances, with Harpel forcing a save in the 59th minute before Katie Burton sent a shot wide left in the 63rd.
Montreat remained aggressive from the 67:52 to the 77:42 marks, recording attempts from Addison Brookshire, Burton and Eden Perkinson. Warren Wilson mounted a late push, but AuBrie Pulaski turned aside a shot for the first save of her collegiate career before another attempt struck the top of the crossbar. The Cavaliers kept the Owls off the scoreboard the rest of the way to secure the 3-0 shutout.
"I was really pleased across the board with the performance from our players tonight," said Head Coach Kristin Eggert. "Taking the touch they needed to keep the ball and draw players in to find the space was something that we have been focusing on, and it was well-executed this evening."
The home team held the statistical edge in shots, 14-6, and shots on target, 9-4. Warren Wilson finished with a 6-4 advantage in saves, while both teams recorded four corner kicks. The Cavs were called for six fouls compared to four for the visitors.
Cruz Manon led the Cavaliers with two goals on two shots. Hall contributed a goal and an assist on two shots, while Harpel added an assist and placed all three of her attempts on frame. Burton registered two shots, including one on target, while Brookshire and Hollomon each added a try on goal. Weissenfluh started in net and made three saves across 71:33, keeping the Owls scoreless.
The Montreat College women's soccer team will travel to Waleska, Ga., to face Reinhardt University on Saturday, Oct. 3 for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
