FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. For the third time in program history, first since 2017, the Methodist women’s soccer team has won the USA South Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament, on Saturday afternoon. The number one seeded Monarchs played the championship game on their home pitch, Duggins Soccer Stadium, and defeated Southern Virginia University 3-1.
After the match, senior Tatiana Lourenco-Shiber was named the tournament Most Valuable Player. Along with Lourenco-Shiber, five other Methodist players were named to the All-Tournament team.
Forwards: Laura Harris, Natalia Marshall-Hewitt and Corrine Shovlain
Defenders: Alyssa Morrell and Harris Barr
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Southern Virginia, 3-1
Records: Methodist 16-2-1, Southern Virginia 11-7-2
Location: Duggins Soccer Stadium, Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Monarchs struck first with a goal by L. Harris in the 10th minute. Lourenco-Shiber was able to flick the ball past a defender before passing it off to L. Harris for the score.
- A minute later, the Knights registered the equalizer off a freekick. A foul just outside the far end of the 18-yard box gave SVU the freekick chance, then Gabriella Ray sent a shot into the back corner of the net to tie the game.
- Methodist was still able to take a 2-1 halftime lead after Lourenco-Shiber found the back of the net herself. Her shot actually hit the post first before bouncing into the net and that shot came off the passes of Shovlain and Rianna Orello.
- The final Monarch goal came off the foot of Shovlain, via a penalty kick.
STAT FACTS
- In three all-time meetings, Methodist is undefeated against the Knights (3-0). The Monarchs have outscored SVU by a 6-1 margin.
- For the first time since 2008, the Monarchs have had two or more goal scorers with double digit goals on the season. Shovlain leads the team with 12 while Lourenco-Shiber has 10.
- Methodist finish the 2022 season with a perfect 11-0 record at home, and they are in the midst of a 14-game win streak.
UP NEXT
Methodist will have to wait until Monday at 2 p.m. for the NCAA DIII Women’s Soccer selection show to figure who and where they will be playing next.