Season-High Scoring Output Propels Women’s Soccer to Rout of Hollins
Johnson twins combine for three goals, Robinson adds pair in win
from Bryce Johnson, Director of Athletic Communications
ROANOKE, Va. – The scoring came early and often for the Guilford College women’s soccer team at Berkley Field, as they netted a season-high for goals led by two each from Zekiah Johnson (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and Trinity Robinson (Burlington, N.C.) to trounce Hollins University, 9-2 on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite HU being an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) rival, the contest was officially a non-conference game so it only moves the needle on their overall record to 6-2-1. The hosting Hollins squad, meanwhile, falls to 2-4-0.
Guilford went with a timeshare in net as Madison Musgrave (Lexington, N.C.) made her first start of the season, making four stops against one goal allowed among the six total shots she faced in the match, factoring into the decision for the first time, and improving to 1-0-0. Lulu Herndon (Cary, N.C.) faced four total shots, all on frame, in the final 45 minutes and made three saves against one tally permitted. Facing 40 total shots on the day, including 26 that threatened the twine, T Shover was under constant duress and as a result she allowed nine goals despite 17 saves, falling to 2-4-0.
Scoring the most goals since they netted 18 in their regular season finale in 2022, the Quakers got contributions from all over the pitch. Robinson led the team in points with five via two goals and an assist, with Johnson scoring a pair of goals as well. It was her twin sister, Zadah Johnson (Winston-Salem, N.C.) who scored the match’s first point, for the game-winner while Lily Brown (Boone, N.C.), Isabella Irizarry (Waxhaw, N.C.), Ashley Linden (Durham, N.C.), and Chloe Sullivan (Greensboro, N.C.) all joined her with one tally in the goals column. Olivia Santos (Indian Trail, N.C.) had a game-high two helpers with Brown, Sullivan, and Ashlyn Miller (Charlotte, N.C.) all contributing singular assists as well. Izzy Workman and Evelyn Keefer were the HU goal-scorers with Adelie Condra and Evelyn Lemus-Arriaga assisting.
Guilford got on the board early, capitalizing on the first of their eight corner kicks, with Santos sending it away from the left corner and placing her feed perfectly off the post on the weak side, finding the head of Zadah Johnson, who redirected it home for the game’s opening tally in the ninth minute.
Less than five minutes later, the Quakers struck again. Drawing a free kick around midfield on the left side, Santos flipped the field finding Miller from beyond the right post. She used two touches to lead Brown who made a turn to the outside, beat her defender, and then beat the keeper with a shot from around the top-right corner of the six-yard box, in the 13th minute.
Shortly after, in the 24th minute, while making a run down the left wing, and into the 18’, Zekiah Johnson got tripped up from behind, drawing a foul as GC was awarded with a penalty kick. Linden got the nod for the Quakers and she cashed in, going to the bottom-right for goal number-three, and the first of her Guilford career.
Just over two minutes elapsed before Guilford found paydirt again. A run by Robinson was deterred as the hosts knocked it away and the ball rolled loose outside the 18’. However, this granted Sullivan the space to step into one from about 27 yards away off the right post, firing a rocket into the right side of the frame for her first collegiate goal in the 26th minute.
Robinson got in on the fun in minute number 33. HU made a play defensively on a GC run down the right wing, with the defender, under pressure, opting to go with a pass-back to Shover. However, the Hollins keeper misplayed the ball, opening an opportunity for Robinson who beat the recovering GK to the spot, and used her left foot to score her second goal of the season.
Robinson reverted to distributing duties for the sixth-and-final goal of the opening stanza for Guilford. A feed into the box was pinballed between a couple of players before the freshman settled things down and sent a cross through the center of the six. While the first Quaker could not get a foot on in, Zekiah Johnson was waiting off the left post, finishing the point-blank look for her second goal of the year in the 34th minute.
The home team did get one back before the halftime break with Lemus-Arriaga linking up with Keefer in the 43rd minute of the first half that saw GC dominate, out-shooting their conference foes 22-6, including 14-5 in shots on goal.
Guilford took advantage of some sloppy passing in the 53rd minute as Santos stepped up and stole a pass at the top of the 18-yard box straight-away. Her takeaway went to Robinson who took one-touch to settle and set-up beyond the penalty stripe, shooting with her right foot to score her second tally of the game, and third of the season, eclipsing the team’s previous season-high for scoring in the process with their seventh of the match.
The Quakers executed on another corner in the 63rd minute. Sullivan triggered the attempt, sending it into the box, and this time, it was the other Johnson, Zekiah, who was able to use her head to redirect it home with her second goal of the game, and third of the year.
Irizarry netted the Quakers’ final score of the contest. A good attack by GC had Brown moving up the right wing, sending a pass from the right border of the 18 to around the PK line. Irizarry, who missed her first chance, recovered and used her left foot to beat the keeper for her first collegiate goal in the 72nd minute of play.
Hollins would get one more before the final horn, with Condra and Workman connecting in the 84th minute to bring the final score to 9-2.
The Quakers get back to league competition next, hosting Bridgewater College on Saturday, October 5th. Opening kick at Appenzeller Field is set for 4 PM.
#GoQuakes
Men’s Soccer Falls to Virginia Wesleyan University
Early Goals Prove Decisive as Guilford struggles on offensive end
from Angel Maldonado, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant, at Guilford College
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Guilford College men’s soccer team traveled to Foster Field at Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex on Wednesday night, facing Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) foe Virginia Wesleyan University, falling short in a one-sided contest by a tally of 5-0 against the Marlins.
The Quakers were unable to capitalize on the offensive end in today’s match up, dropping to 3-6-0, on the season and 0-3 in ODAC play. The Marlins improved to 8-1-2 and 3-0 in conference play, first in the ODAC.
Chris Kelley (Lexington, N.C.) got the start in goal for Guilford, securing six saves amongst the 11 he faced. Falling to 2-5-0 in net. Ildis Vital-Peraza (Vienna, Va.) finished out the game for the Quakers in the final ten minutes of action. Ben Haynes made the start in net for the hosts, improving to 7-0-2 for VWU, making three saves among the nine shot attempts he faced. Matt Yates concluded the game for the Marlins securing three saves among 13 shot attempts.
GC had 13 total shots, with seven on target. Chris Hercules (Greensboro, N.C.) led the pack with three shots, two of those being on frame. Riley Copeland (West End, N.C.) followed, with two attempts, one on goal.
The match started off with a flurry of activity, as both sides looked to gain an early advantage. Guilford dominated the first few minutes with superior possession of the ball and great connections amongst the players.
Angel Aragon (Winston-Salem, N.C.) initiated the first attack for Guilford, firing off two shots on target within the first ten. However, Virginia Wesleyan stood tall and rejected both attempts. The Marlins capitalized on their defensive efforts in the 14th minute, with a counter attack and quick build up that saw a cross from Everett McCloskey and a finish from Nolan Schulte.
The Quakers struggled to maintain possession after conceding the first goal. VWU continued to apply an immense amount of pressure, and found another goal in the 20th minute, after a series of passes that ended with a Zach Bittler goal.
The Quakers fought back, creating a few scoring opportunities of their own. Hercules nearly pulled one back in the 28th minute with a low-driven shot from distance off of a free kick that was blocked by the opposing defender.
VWU continued their dominant performance across the board, taking advantage of another counter-attacking opportunity, Nate Mitchelle connected a pin-point pass to Alex Moody, who found the back of the net and secured the Marlins third goal of the match.
In the 41st minute, GC continued to seek their first scoring opportunity with Hercules standing strong in the midfield, intercepting a VWU pass attempt. Hercules calmly approached the 18’ and ripped a shot, near the left side of the goal, but Haynes came in with a rejection. Ken Vaquez (Pittsboro, N.C.) had the chance to capitalize on the rebound, but missed the frame.
The second half saw both sides exchange possessions as they sought goal scoring opportunities. Shots were taken by both sides, but VWU got the better end of the stick, as they secured another pair of goals in the 76” and the 89” minute to conclude the game, at 5-Nil.
Guilford looks to bounce back as they travel to Bridgewater,Va to face conference opponent Bridgewater College on October 5. Kickoff is set for 3:00 P.M.
#GoQuakes