SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse College soccer team dropped its home and Conference Carolinas opener to visiting Mount Olive on Saturday afternoon at Hayden Abney Fulp Field. The Trojans scored once in the first half followed by three more in the second to secure the 4-1 win.
MATCH INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 4, Converse 1
Records: Mount Olive (1-0, 1-0 CC), Converse (0-3, 0-1 CC)
Location: Hayden Abney Fulp Field, Converse College, Spartanburg, S.C.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Devyn Plyler led the Vals with three shots and one goal.
- Darian Bankston played all 90 minutes between the pipes, collecting four saves.
- Mount Olive led shots by a total of 14-5.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The initial segment of the game was a defensive stalemate as both teams jostled for position on their respective sides of the field. However, Mount Olive finally broke through in the 24th minute of action when Jaelyn Brown scored off an assist from Sara Berglund, giving UMO the early one-goal lead.
Devyn Plyler came within inches of the equalizer in minute number 31, but her long strike was barely knocked over the crossbar by the Trojan keeper, leaving the Valkyries with a corner kick. The rest of the half was uneventful as Mount Olive took the 1-0 lead into the locker room.
Second Half
Mount Olive doubled its lead less than five minutes into the second half after a header from Kali Schindler found the back of the net. The Trojans added another score in the 65th minute to push ahead 3-0 with 25 minutes to play in the contest.
Converse looked poised to cut into the deficit after Lillian Rinda stole a pass deep in Trojan territory, but her strike was corralled by the goalie. That missed opportunity proved costly as UMO padded the lead with a breakaway goal from Jasmine Pinter.
The Valkyries were finally able to break through on the scoreboard in the 85th minute when Plyler showcased her dribbling skills, beating a defender and placing the rock in the top right corner of the goal for her first score of the season.
UP NEXT
After a one-week hiatus the Valkyries will return to the field to host the Tornado of King University. That contest is scheduled to kickoff at 2:00 p.m.