Trojans entertain Saints in CVAC soccer

Published in Sports on September 15, 2006 2:12 PM

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MOC Sports Information

When the Mount Olive men's soccer team traveled to Limestone last season, the Trojans were unbeaten and nationally ranked. This time around, it's Limestone with the national ranking and the unbeaten record. But the Trojans are hoping for the same result as last year.

Mount Olive aims for its third win in four matches as the Trojans play host to nationally 11th-ranked Limestone in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference men's soccer Saturday at Trojan Field. Match time is 3:30 p.m.

Mount Olive (3-3-0 overall, 0-1-0 CVAC) is coming off a dramatic 1-0 double overtime victory over perennial power UNC Pembroke Wednesday at Trojan Field. Senior defender Mike Garrett was in the right place at the right time, scoring from 10 yards out in the 106th minute after senior forward Ryan Adamski recaptured his own shot off the crossbar and chipped the ball to Garrett.

Adamski constantly pressured the UNC Pembroke defense, firing seven shots, including two that hit the post, before assisting on the game-winner.

Junior goalkeeper Chris Roush recorded his first shutout of the season, recording five saves. Roush's final save came on a rocket from 18 yards out in the first minute of the second overtime.

Wednesday's contest was the Trojans' first overtime match of the season and first overtime victory since defeating eventual national quarterfinalist Lander 3-2 in the second match of the 2005 season.

Limestone (6-0-1, 2-0-0) remained unbeaten with a 2-1 conference win Thursday at Limestone. Liam Brown scored both goals for the Saints, ranked No. 2 in the Southeast Region.

Mount Olive won 2-0 at Limestone in last year's meeting as the Trojans scored both goals in a span of six minutes early in the second half. Reid Clewis -- now the Trojans' assistant women's soccer coach -- scored the first goal, and the second came on an own goal.

The Trojans entered that contest ranked No. 22 in the NSCAA Division II Top 25 with a record of 5-0-1.

Notes: Mount Olive is seeking its first win this season over a team from South Carolina. The Trojans fell to Lander and USC-Aiken earlier this season.

Lady Trojans trying

to snap losing skid

The Mount Olive women's soccer team hopes to snap its four-match losing skid as the Trojans play host to Limestone in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference action Saturday at Trojan Field. Match time is 1 p.m.

Mount Olive (4-4-0 overall, 0-1-0 CVAC) is coming off a 2-0 non-conference loss at Chowan Wednesday. After scoring 12 goals and starting the season with four straight wins for the first time in school history, the Trojans have been held to one goal in their last four contests.

Despite the lack of scoring, Mount Olive players still rank among the conference statistical leaders. Junior midfielder April Jacobs ranks in the top 10 with three goals, four assists and 10 points. Junior forwards Kate Painter (four assists) and Caitlyn Wright (three assists) are among the assists leaders in the CVAC.

Sophomore goalkeeper Ali O'Steen has three shutouts and enters Saturday's contest with a 1.09 goals against average.

Limestone (2-3-3, 1-1-0) recorded a 3-0 shutout at Anderson Thursday in a CVAC match-up. All-CVAC goalkeeper Liz Eichhorn and freshman Brittany Clarke combined for the Saints' second shutout of the season. Eichhorn left the contest after a collision late in the first half.

Mount Olive fell 4-0 at Limestone last season. The loss dropped Mount Olive's record to 4-4-0 before the Trojans rebounded to win five of their next six matches.

Notes: Mount Olive defeated Limestone twice at Trojan Field in 2004, winning 3-0 in the regular season and 4-1 in the first round of the CVAC Tournament.

MOC spikers will

host Queens

Mount Olive head volleyball coach Sasha Gutor makes his home debut Saturday as the Trojans play host to Queens in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference action. Match time is 2 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.

Mount Olive (3-6 overall, 2-3 CVAC) is coming off a three-game loss Wednesday at St. Andrews. The Trojans held leads in games one and three, but St. Andrews was able to rally both times.

Junior Sam Mitchell ranks third in the CVAC with 3.93 kills per game and has helped spark the Trojan defense with 3.90 digs per game. Senior Nikki Murphy ranks ninth in the conference with 3.93 digs per game. Senior Anna-Marie Luft's .295 hitting percentage is the sixth-highest in the CVAC, while sophomore Corie Skislak ranks third in the CVAC with 1.21 blocks per game.

Queens (0-8, 0-5) fell to Pfeiffer in three games Tuesday. The Royals are at Barton this evening.

Saturday's contest will be the second meeting in eight days between the two teams. Mount Olive defeated Queens in four games this past Saturday as Mitchell recorded her first collegiate "20-20" performance with a career-high 27 kills and a career-matching 24 digs.

Coach Gutor spent the previous four weeks overseas coaching the Ukrainian Women's Volleyball National Team. Gutor returned home Tuesday and guided the Trojans against St. Andrews Wednesday.

Notes: Saturday's match is the first of six consecutive home contests for Mount Olive.