The Lady Bruins soccer team shutout region-rival Trinity Baptist College on Friday afternoon in Jacksonville, Florida. With the win, the team moves to 8-5-2 on the season while being a perfect 2-0 in region play. The win gives the Bruins a strong case to capture the #1 seed for the NCCAA DII South Regional Tournament coming up in a few weeks in Toccoa Falls, Georgia.
"Trinity played very well and forced us to really battle our way throughout the game," Bruins Head Coach Chris Carmichael said. "In the end, our team was able keep the ball and and increase our off ball movement and we finally were able to settle into our game plan. We need to get some quick recovery and get ready for our match tomorrow."
The Bruins came into the match on the heels of a tough overtime loss on Tuesday night to Piedmont College. Still, the Bruins were confident as they came into the game on Friday having won five of their last six games.
From the opening kickoff, both teams battled back and forth as each settled into their rhythm of play. The Bruins were able to move the ball effectively thanks to good combination play in the midfield and on the wings.
The Bruins got a good chance in the half after Ali Sigmon was fouled just outside the box, awarding the team a free kick. Defender Jenny Townsend seized the opportunity and scored on the free kick with a well placed shot to put the Bruins up 1-0. The Eagles tried to respond to equalize, but the Bruins defense stood strong as BJU took a 1-0 lead into the half.
In the second half, the Bruins came out strong looking to add to their lead. The team was able to create several scoring chances as they continued to find holes in the Eagles' defense. Abby Davis continued her hot streak as the senior received a pass from Kristyn Rygh and buried it to push the lead to 2-0.
As the match began to come to a close, Carlie Mitchell helped put the exclamation point on a strong win for the team as she scored off an assist from Bailey Martin to make the score 3-0. The Eagles couldn't find an answer as the final buzzer completed the shutout for the Bruins to capture their eighth win of the season.
"It took us a little while to get a rhythm of play but once we settled in a bit we were able to open up the field and create a number of goal scoring opportunities," Coach Carmichael said. "I'm very proud of our team as they continue to work hard and do what we need to do to win."
Next up, the Bruins will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they face Grace Christian University in Jacksonville, Florida. The Tigers were the #2 seed in last year's NCCAA DII National Tournament and enter the match ranked #5 in the country at 6-6-1. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
