Trojan women earn first-ever victory against Division I program

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on August 30, 2006 1:46 PM

• Print
• Email

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Gina Dos Santos and April Jacobs each tallied a goal and an assist as Mount Olive broke away from a scoreless first half to defeat NCAA Division I South Carolina State 3-0 in non-conference women's soccer Tuesday at Orangeburg. The win is the first in the history of the Trojan women's soccer program over a Division I opponent.

Mount Olive (3-0-0) outshot South Carolina State 8-3 in the first half, but was held without a goal before intermission for the first time this season. The Trojans' best scoring chance came in the 20th minute on a cross in the box to Caitlyn Wright, but South Carolina State goalkeeper Alechia Brothers was able to block the ball off Wright's foot.

Trojan goalkeeper Ali O'Steen made a save on Lauren Emrich's 30-yard blast in the final minute of the first half to keep the match scoreless.

Dos Santos, who made her first appearance in the match at the start of the second half, ignited the Trojans by capturing the ball inside the midfield line and crossing the ball forward to Jacobs, who made a run down the left side and scored from 15 yards out to give Mount Olive a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.

South Carolina State (1-1-0) had a pair of opportunities to tie the match midway through the second half, the first coming on Janine Francois' 25-yard shot attempt that sailed just over the crossbar. A Bulldog corner kick led to a scramble in the Mount Olive box, but Trojan defender Kirsten White cleared the ball out.

"The first half was pretty tough. We weren't really playing our game," said White, a freshman from Woodstock, Ontario. "We were able to play our game in the second half."

The Trojans extended the lead to 2-0 in the 69th minute when White put home Jacobs' corner kick for her first collegiate goal. Dos Santos capped the scoring in the 90th minute as she added to her career school scoring record with her 40th career goal.

O'Steen recorded five saves as she and the Trojan defense posted their second shutout in three matches. Brothers finished with six saves for South Carolina State. Mount Olive outshot the Bulldogs 17-11.

"The first half was pretty sloppy, but we picked it up in the second half," said Trojan head coach Chris Shaw. "Gina made a perfect pass to set up the first goal and it's fitting that she would finish the scoring."

After three consecutive away matches -- and five consecutive days of riding in a team bus -- the Trojan "road warriors" have their first home contests of the season this weekend as Mount Olive plays host to the women's soccer Sleep Inn Classic at Trojan Field.

Mount Olive faces Southern Virginia on Friday at 3 p.m., followed by Barton vs. nationally 14th-ranked Catawba at 5 p.m. Saturday, Barton takes on Southern Virginia at 1 p.m. and the Trojans square off against Catawba at 5 p.m.