Nichole Poppe started a five goal surge in the second half as the University of Mount Olive powered to a 6-0 victory over Chowan University Tuesday afternoon in Murfreesboro, N.C. for non-conference women's soccer. The Trojans along with their six goals also had 28 shots in the match; both are the most in a single match this season.
Christine Rocchio moved Mount Olive (8-5-2) ahead of Chowan (1-12-2) in the 30th minute of the first half with a header off a corner from Lauren Power. The second half saw an offensive explosion from Mount Olive as four more Trojans pushed the game out of reach.
Poppe scored the first goal of the second half in the 55th minute with a shot that hit off the crossbar and bounced in for a 2-0 lead. Ellie Barnes added a goal 10 minutes later in the 65th minute. Lauren Power added a goal of her own in the 66th minute after a service into the box from Maddy Robak found the back of the net. Poppe added her second goal in the 69th minute when Barnes fed her a ball near the far post and Poppe beat the diving Hawks keeper.
Hannah Kirk finished off the scoring for Mount Olive in the final :45 of the match. Kirk was able to break free from the Chowan defense and hit the far post for the final goal of the match.
The Mount Olive defense held Chowan without a shot for the entire match and Stephanie McCoy recorded her fourth shutout this season.
Mount Olive will play its final regular season contest this weekend as the Trojans travel to Franklin Springs, Ga. to take on Emmanuel at 1 p.m. Conference Carolinas tournament seeding will be determined after the match.