Alex Wetherholt scored two goals and Jocelyn Yurchak and Ellie Barnes each added a goal as University of Mount Olive opened Conference Carolinas women's soccer play with a 4-0 victory over North Greenville University Saturday at Amon Field. Goalkeepers Stephanie McCoy and Kelsey Cirrito combined on the Trojans' first shutout of the season.
Mount Olive (2-2-0 overall, 1-0-0 Conference Carolinas) scored its quickest goal of the season, needing only six minutes to get on the scoreboard. Maddy Robak sent a long service towards the top of the box and Wetherholt beat the defender to the ball to score on a 1-V-1 and give the Trojans a 1-0 lead at 5:59.
The Trojans outshot the Crusaders 14-4 in the first half, but had to settle for a one-goal lead until Christine Rocchio set up a goal in the 37th minute. Rocchio won a 50-50 ball inside the attacking third and played the ball ahead to Yurchak. Yurchak shot from 20 yards out and put the ball just over the outstretched hand of the North Greenville goalkeeper at the 36:40 mark.
McCoy recorded all four of her saves in the first half and made two other defensive plays to keep North Greenville off the board. McCoy came off her line to clear a ball from just above the box to prevent a breakaway midway through the first half and caught a corner kick service in front of the goal in the final minute as the Trojans went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Wetherholt scored her second goal of the match 12 minutes into the second half. She took Nichole Poppe's cross from right of the box and scored just inside the near post to extend the Trojans' lead to 3-0 at 57:18. Barnes capped the scoring with an unassisted goal eight minutes later, carrying the ball across midfield and eluding two defenders in the box.
North Greenville (2-1-0, 0-1-0) appeared to get on the scoreboard in the 87th minute, but the Crusaders' goal was waived for offside.
The Trojans outshot North Greenville 19-6 for the match. Cirrito played the final 23 minutes in goal for Mount Olive. Crusader starting goalkeeper Madelynn Schober recorded eight saves in 75 minutes.
Mount Olive plays its first away match of the season Wednesday as the Trojans travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to take on Converse in Conference Carolinas action. The contest is a rematch of the first round of last year's conference tournament. Match time is 5 p.m.