Women’s Soccer Defeats Limestone, 5-2

GAFFNEY, S.C. - The Lady Saints soccer team got off to a slow start against Mars Hill as they dropped their home opener by a count of 5-2. The Lions scored all five of their goals within the first 20 minutes of the game. With the loss, Limestone falls to 0-2 on the season. Mars Hill moves to 1-0.

Early in the game, the Lady Saints defense had a rough time corralling the Mars Hill offensive trio of Caity Murnahan (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Abby Martin (Greer, S.C.) and Salem Woody (Apex, N.C.) as each contributed to all five of the visitor's goals. The first score came four minutes into the game as Martin's cross found Woody behind the entire Limestone defense for an open net goal.

The Lions took full advantage of Limestone's frustration five minutes later as Martin was again deep in the LC defense, this time beating keeper Kristen Alderin-Fleagle (Kernersville, N.C.) after receiving the feed by Murnahan, to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Mars Hill made it 3-0 at the 15:28 mark when Murnahan scored on an assist by Marthaliz Toboas (Orlando, Fla.).

Less than two minutes later, the onslaught continued as Martin again fed Woody on a cross to give Mars Hill a commanding 4-0 lead before Murnahan scored her second goal of the game with a penalty kick in the 20th minute. The Lady Saints went into the intermission down 5-0.

Mars Hill outshot Limestone 9-4 in the first half, with their first five shots finding the back of the net. The Lions also held a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks during the first 45 minutes of play. The game would turn in the second half as Limestone took the offensive by outshooting the Lions 9-3 and holding a 5-2 lead in corner kicks.

The Lady Saints had a golden opportunity to get on the scoreboard early in the second half, but Ashley Alderin-Fleagle's (Kernersville, N.C.) penalty kick was gobbled up by the Lion goalkeeper Chelsea Parker (Richmond, Va.). Limestone kept up the offensive pressure and finally broke through for their first goal of the season as senior midfielder Madi Dulisse (Burlington, Wisc.) received Diane Boyce's (Toccoa, Ga.) pass and beat Parker on the opposite side, cutting the score to 5-1.

A few moments later, a free kick by Boyce from 40 yards out found its way into the back of the net for her first goal of the season, trimming the Mars Hill lead to 5-2. The Lady Saints had several more opportunities on corner kicks, but two quality headers by Ashley Alderin-Fleagle and junior forward Vanessa Jarrett (Ottawa, Ontario) both sailed wide.

Parker made six saves for the Lions. Alderin-Fleagle recorded five saves for the Saints.

Mars Hill will travel to Lees-McRae on Wednesday. The game will start at 7 p.m.