By Zack Ciboth, Sports Editor
The UNC Pembroke women’s soccer team won in dominant fashion Wednesday night at home when they hosted the Barton Bulldogs in a Conference Carolina match. The Braves struck fast and early putting on a scoring clinic en route to a 8-1 win against the Bulldogs. This is the second time that the Braves have reached eight goals in a match improving their overall record against Barton to 12-3-1 in the series.
UNCP got things going right away in the eighth minute when Anna Grossheim found the goal off an assist from Mercy Bell to make it 1-0 Braves early. The Braves took the 2-0 lead in the 20th minute off a goal by Abagail Lowery that found the corner of the net sailing past the goalie, but the Bulldogs answered immediately getting on the scoreboard for the first time tonight on a goal by Lexis Goldberg that was assisted by Kassie Krul.
“I think we got off to a good start, went up 2-0, and then had a little bit of a mental lapse with them scoring almost instantly and gave them a goal back,” UNCP coach Lars Andersson said. “It was a comprehensive performance tonight.” The Braves led 2-1 at halftime.
In the second half, the Braves started to take over and put the game out of reach fast. Six other Braves joined the party starting with Eugenie Amidou finding the net in the 58th minute off an assist on a corner kick from llaya Bigford to make it 3-1. Grossheim would make it 4-1 with her second goal of the night coming in the 63rd minute. It quickly became 5-1 minutes later when Grossheim found the foot of Bea Vazquez who shifted a defender for the score. Ashleigh Harris picked up an assist on the night when she found Bell in the 73rd minute to make it 6-1. Maria Cancio found the net in the 82nd minute off an assist from Cora Taylor and then Taylor would find the goal herself off an assist from Devyn Hart to cap off the scoring.
“I like the new girls coming off and scoring tonight they make a difference up and down the field defensively and offensively,” Lowery said.
“Everybody was focused and everybody contributed and we took everybody’s thoughts and opinions and put it into one and I think we showed that on the field tonight,” Grossheim said.”A bit of a rocky start this season, you have your ups and downs as the season goes on but you can’t linger over something in the past you have to move forward and take it one game at a time.”
Grossheim recorded five shots with three shots on goal which were both team highs to go with her two goals and an assist on the night. Amidou and Taylor both recorded their first goals of the season with Taylor’s being her first as a Brave. Bell tallied her ninth goal of the season for the Braves in the win.
“I hope that we can bottle this and play the way we felt and supported each other and the way that we put together a comprehensive performance,” Andersson said.
The Braves (4-3-1, 3-1-1 CC) will hit the road on Saturday when they make the trip to Murfreesboro for a Conference Carolina match with Chowan (1-4, 1-2 CC). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.