MOC roundup

Published in Sports on October 16, 2005 2:22 AM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Fritz Belinga's goal in the 29th minute off a deflected shot proved to be the game-winner as Belmont Abbey held on for a 1-0 victory over nationally 23rd-ranked Mount Olive in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference men's soccer Saturday at Trojan Field. The contest was a rematch of the championship game of last year's CVAC Tournament and leaves both teams in a tie for third in the CVAC standings.

Mount Olive (10-4-1 overall, 5-2-0 CVAC) had a scoring opportunity in the 14th minute when Brandon Mills stole a pass at midfield and served to Bobby Allen, whose shot from 20 yards out went just wide of the right post. Belmont Abbey (6-8-1, 5-2-0) got on the scoreboard at the 28:41 mark when Kyle Fenner's shot in the box deflected off a Trojan defender, leaving Belinga with an open shot. Mount Olive had a corner kick in the final minute of the half, but Belmont Abbey cleared the ball before the Trojans could get a shot.

The Trojans came close to tying the match five minutes into the second half on Chris Varela's shot in the box, but the ball glanced off a Belmont Abbey defender and rolled just left of the post. Mount Olive had two wild scrambles in the box and got the ball past the Belmont Abbey goalkeeper, but on both occasions, a Crusader defender was able to make the save and preserve the shutout.

Mount Olive outshot Belmont Abbey 6-4, including a 4-0 advantage in the second half.

In last year's CVAC Tournament championship game, Mount Olive defeated Belmont Abbey 1-0 on the Crusaders' homefield for the Trojans' first-ever men's soccer conference title.

Mount Olive, ranked No. 3 in the Southeast Region, returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans play host to St. Andrews in a CVAC match-up. Match time is 4 p.m. at Trojan Field. Belmont Abbey plays host to Barton Wednesday at 4 p.m. in a CVAC contest.

MOC women

suffer OT loss

MOUNT OLIVE -- Lindsay Megill's free kick from the top of the box in the eighth minute of overtime was the game-winner as regionally sixth-ranked Belmont Abbey withstood a furious rally for a 3-2 victory over Mount Olive in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference women's soccer Saturday at Trojan Field. The Trojans came back from a two-goal deficit on goals by Amber Cantrell and April Jacobs in the final 61 seconds of the first half.

Mount Olive (10-6-0 overall, 6-2-0 CVAC) withstood early pressure before Lisa Perrotta eluded a defender in the box in the 11th minute for the first of her two goals to give Belmont Abbey a 1-0 lead. Belmont Abbey (12-4-0, 7-1-0) extended the lead to 2-0 in the 32nd minute when Erin Kolb's service set up Perrotta for a breakaway goal.

Both teams narrowly missed on goal-scoring opportunities late in the first half. Belmont Abbey had a breakaway opportunity on Perrotta's cross, but an open shot went just wide. Kate Painter had a chance to give Mount Olive its first goal in the 39th minute when her shot got past the Belmont Abbey goalkeeper, but Crusader defender Jill Barnes cleared the ball just before it crossed the line.

Mount Olive got on the scoreboard with 1:01 remaining in the first half when Jacobs served a corner kick to Gina Dos Santos, who found Cantrell at the left post to give the Trojans their first goal. Mount Olive scored again with 16 seconds left in the half when a foul in the box was called against Belmont Abbey and Jacobs put home a penalty kick to even the match at 2-2 going into halftime.

In the second half, both teams had chances to win in regulation, but couldn't capitalize. Trojan goalkeeper Heather Ulep made a save on a breakaway shot in the 60th minute and Megill's free kick from 30 yards out went just over the crossbar in the 83rd minute. Mount Olive had two indirect kicks in the final minute, but was unable to score as the two teams headed into overtime.

In the overtime, a foul was called against Mount Olive just above the box. Megill lined a shot over the wall for the game-winner at the 97:42 mark. Mount Olive entered the match with a 2-0-0 record in overtime this season.

Mount Olive outshot Belmont Abbey 13-12. Ulep had three saves for the Trojans, while Anna Wells had four saves for Mount Olive.

Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans play host to St. Andrews in a CVAC match-up. Match time is 2 p.m. at Trojan Field. Belmont Abbey plays host to Barton Wednesday at 2 p.m. in CVAC action.

Trojans finish 2-2

at Pa. tourney

Regionally eighth-ranked Mount Olive posted a pair of five-game wins Saturday as the Trojans finished with a 2-2 mark at the Lock Haven Volleyball Classic this weekend at Lock Haven, Pa. The tournament marked a return to the site of the Trojans' first-ever NCAA II volleyball tournament appearance last season.

Heidi Busch added 66 kills to her career total and jumped into the top 10 on the NCAA II all-time kills list. Busch ranks ninth with 2,246 career kills.

All four of the Trojans' matches were against members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Sam Mitchell recorded a career-high 23 kills and Busch added 20 kills as Mount Olive withstood a rally to defeat West Chester 33-31, 30-26, 26-30, 20-30, 15-11 in Saturday's first match. Anna Luft tallied 11 kills and three blocks, while Sara Christie recorded 57 assists.

Nikki Murphy notched 17 digs, while Mallory Peavler added 14 digs. Busch also had three service aces.

In Saturday's nightcap, Mount Olive outlasted Kutztown 30-8, 27-30, 30-26, 27-30, 15-9. The Trojans used a balance attack as Busch finished with 17 kills, Mitchell had 16 kills, Colby Mangum tallied 15 kills and Luft added 10 kills.

Christie recorded 53 assists and three aces, while Busch served a team-high four aces.

Friday, Mount Olive fell to regionally sixth-ranked Edinboro 33-31, 28-30, 30-16, 30-27. Busch led the Trojans with 17 kills and three blocks.

The Trojans also fell to regionally top-ranked and nationally 19th-ranked Lock Haven 30-24, 30-20, 30-22. Busch finished with 12 kills.

Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as the Trojans play host to seven-time Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference champion and current CVAC leader Lees-McRae. The match is the Trojans' first home contest in almost a month. Match time is 6:30 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.