Braves blank Lady Trojans

Published in Sports on September 7, 2006 2:19 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive held a 12-5 shot advantage in the second half, but the Trojans were unable to find the back of the net, falling to UNC Pembroke 2-0 in non-conference women's soccer Wednesday at Trojan Field. Melanie Cobb and Kim Oijerstedt scored goals seven minutes apart midway through the first half to lead UNCP in a match played on a rain-soaked field.

Mount Olive (4-2-0) had three corner kicks in the first 20 minutes of the match, the third corner nearly resulting in a goal when Kirsten White found an opening past the UNCP goalkeeper, but a Braves defender at the right post was able to clear the ball before it went over the line. UNC Pembroke (4-1-0) scored on its next possession as Oijerstedt and Valerie Buchite played the ball forward to Cobb, who beat the Trojan defense to put the Braves on top 1-0 in the 22nd minute.

UNC Pembroke scored again in the 29th minute when Cobb found Oijerstedt in the box for a goal. Trojan forward Lyndsay Brennan almost put Mount Olive on the scoreboard in the 37th minute when her shot went off UNCP goalkeeper Whitney Beverly, but Beverly recovered for the save. Beverly made another save on April Jacobs' line drive with six seconds left in the half to preserve the Braves' two-goal lead at halftime.

After being held to four shots in the first half, Mount Olive outshot UNC Pembroke 5-1 in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Jacobs came close on a pair of opportunities, putting a shot just over the crossbar in the 49th minute, then hitting the bottom of the crossbar four minutes later. The crossbar also denied UNC Pembroke a goal in the 54th minute when Buchite's 20-yard shot caromed off the bar.

Mount Olive withstood a series of UNCP corner kicks and Trojan goalkeeper Ali O'Steen made saves on a pair of close range shots. The Trojans mounted a late attack with four shots in the final four minutes, but two were off target and Beverly recorded saves on the other two.

The two teams finished even on shots 16-16. O'Steen and Beverly finished with eight saves apiece. UNC Pembroke was also credited with one team save.

After recovering from Tropical Storm Ernesto, Trojan Field endured heavy overnight rains the last two nights, as well as steady rain throughout the day Tuesday.

Mount Olive opens Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference play Saturday as the Trojans play host to Queens. Match time is 1 p.m. at Trojan Field. UNC Pembroke opens Peach Belt Conference play Saturday at 1 p.m. at Columbus State.