Lions Rally to Tie Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.-- Mars Hill's women's soccer team rallied back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 tie against Mount Olive in the Lions' season-opener Saturday afternoon at Amon Field.

After spotting the Trojans a two-goal lead, Rachel Weber scored two goals in the second half to lead MHU back to earn the tie. Hannah Russell picked up an assist for the Lions. Alex Wetherholt and Christine Rocchio scored for Mount Olive. The Lions outshot the Trojans 13-8. Mars Hill opens the season 0-0-1. Mount Olive's record is the same.

Wetherholt got the Trojans on the board 13:28 into the contest. Lauren Power played a ball into the box for Wetherholt, who slipped past a defender and buried a 15-yard shot.

Power set up Mount Olive's second goal just 2:30 later. Power sent a corner kick into the box, which was directed in by Rocchio to give MOC a 2-0 lead.

Weber got the Lions on the board in the 57th-minute. Russell fired a shot off the keeper's fingertips, and Weber was there to punch in the rebound to cut the score to 2-1.

The junior struck again in the 84th-minute, running down a loose ball and slipped a shot past the keeper who had come out to challenge. The goal gave Weber the first multi-goal game of her Lion career.

Neither team was able to punch across a goal in either overtime stanza.

Tori Stajduhar played the complete match in net for MHU and made one save. Carolin Edenhofner made five saves for the Trojans.

Mars Hill continues play Wednesday, Sep. 11 when they make the short trip to Asheville to face UNC Asheville. Match time is set for 5:00 p.m.