Ellie Barnes scored the winning goal just 46 seconds after University of Mount Olive allowed the tying goal as the Trojans held on for a 3-2 victory over Erskine College in Conference Carolinas women's soccer Saturday at Amon Field. The win was Mount Olive's third in its last four matches and put the Trojans back above the .500 mark in conference play.
Mount Olive (3-4-0 overall, 2-1-0 Conference Carolinas) saw a two-goal lead disappear after a turnover deep in its own end allowed Erskine the tying goal at the 79:13 mark. The Trojans then capitalized on an Erskine turnover in the Flying Fleet third as Barnes captured the loose ball and beat the keeper on a 1v1 at 79:59.
The Trojans went on top 1-0 at 18:14 when Alex Wetherholt blasted a 25-yard shot from above the top right of the box. Mount Olive added a goal at the 42:40 mark when Kristin Power found older sister Lauren Power in the box for an open shot as the Trojans went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Mount Olive held a 10-1 shot advantage in the first half, but was held to just one shot through the first 34-plus minutes of the second half as Erskine (1-5-1, 0-2-0) mounted its comeback. Kate Harrington scored a goal in the 53rd minute, then found Mel Foster after forcing a Trojan turnover to tie the match 2-2.
Barnes' game winner was Mount Olive's only other shot in the second half as Erskine outshot the Trojans 6-2 in the second half.
"We were able to regroup after they (Erskine) tied the game," said Barnes, who has scored the game-winning goal in both of the Trojans' conference wins, including an overtime game winner against Emmanuel last Saturday. "I think we're finding our identity and playing the way we're capable of playing."
Trojan goalkeeper Gigi Ramirez recorded three saves, while Ashton Burgess finished with five saves for Erskine.
Prior to the start of the match, a moment of silence was observed to honor the three members of the North Central Texas College softball team who were killed Friday night in an automobile accident. The team was returning home from a game.
Mount Olive takes to the road Monday as the Trojans travel to Wingate, N.C., to take on Wingate in non-conference action. Match time is 7 p.m.