Women’s Soccer tops Brevard, falls to Mount Olive; men’s soccer wins
Posted by The Skyliner on September 16th, 2009Paul Conner
Sports Editor
Joel Watkins, junior, tees up a free kick as Seth Snyder, senior business, awaits the ball in North Greenville's 3-0 loss against Coker. (Photo by Cory Guinn)
The women’s soccer team outshot Mount Olive 10-6, but the Trojans scored two second-half goals to secure a 2-0 victory last Saturday in North Carolina. Former Crusader Rebecca Hecke scored the winning goal in the 58th minute against her former school. Hecke transferred to Mount Olive (1-3-1) last year and was instrumental in scheduling the game.
“Overall we played well defensively, but a few mistakes cost us,” said North Greenville coach Jesse McCormick. “Obviously we weren’t able to score, but I was happy with our ability to possess and put some pressure on them.”
North Greenville (3-2-0) is becoming well-acquainted with Conference Carolinas’ opponents, having defeated Lees-McRae 1-0 and Converse 7-0 earlier this season. The loss to Mount Olive was their first against Conference Carolinas’ competition.
The Lady Crusaders kept the score even until halftime. Hecke gathered a pass from Sydney Frielinghause and scored from just inside the 18-yard box. North Greenville nearly tied the match in the 67th minute when Leah Ward, junior sport management, fired a shot from 15 yards out, forcing Trojans keeper Lyndsey McIntyre to dive and parry the ball beyond the post.
“I think we’re playing really well, considering that we lost some key players on defense last year,” Ward said. “We’re playing better now than we were at the end of last season.”
Last Tuesday, North Greenville defeated Brevard 1-0 on the strength of a Ward goal early in the second half. Ward was assisted on the play by Kaeleigh Meara. The Lady Crusaders will return to the pitch at Pepsi Stadium tomorrow night at 7:00 against Warren Wilson.
The men’s soccer team notched their second win of the year with a 1-0 victory at Truett McConnell. Seth Snyder, senior business, scored the only goal of the match on an assist from Joel Watkins, junior.
“Truett McConnell is solid and plays with a lot of intensity, and we were able to match their intensity and be persistent,” said Crusaders coach Chad Gfeller. “It’s a good win, because it’s an opponent we could have lost to.”
North Greenville (2-2-0) played to a 0-0 draw at halftime until Snyder directed Watkins’ cross past the Truett McConnell keeper. The Crusaders defense recorded their second shutout and have only allowed four goals on the season. Three of the four starting defenders are freshmen.
“As a whole we have some guys who are really stepping up,” Gfeller said. “The leadership is there, with older guys helping the younger guys on the team.”
The Crusaders will travel to Lander tonight at 7:00 for “probably the toughest game of the year,” according to Gfeller.
On Sept. 2, North Greenville played their first night home game against Coker, a 3-0 loss. With donations from Jim Cox and Don Snyder, four lighting units were installed over the off-season, making it easier for the Crusaders to schedule home games.
Last season, many games were played in the afternoon, limiting fan attendance and the ability of teams to travel to Tigerville from out of state. After playing four of their first five games away, North Greenville will go on the road just two times in the next 10 matches.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 2