Less than 24 hours after suffering a tough road loss, the Lady Bruins came out firing on all cylinders as a barrage of goals handed them a 6-3 win over Piedmont International University on Saturday afternoon in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With the win, the team improves to 3-4-1 on the season.
"We came out determined and focused to win today," Bruins Head Coach Chris Carmichael said. "Our players had an attacking mindset from the start and were able to sustain pressure throughout the game."
In the first ever meeting between the soccer teams of PIU and BJU, the next chapter of the battle of the Bruins was set to be written. The sun was shining on BB&T Park, providing hot and humid conditions for the match.
From the opening kickoff, the BJU Bruins went right on the attack as Kristyn Rygh and Bailey Martin were able to help guide the midfield and transition play to free up scoring lanes. The Bruins would be the first to score as Abby Davis was fouled in the box, giving BJU a PK. Bailey Martin took a confident strike and buried it into the back of the net to put BJU ahead 1-0.
As the half continued, the Bruins maintained their relentless attack as they continued to move the ball into position to score. Bailey Martin added her second goal of the match as she took advantage of a rebound opportunity after Grace Hoffman's shot hit the post. Martin moved past the defender and scored with a well-placed shot as the Bruins led 2-0. The team wasn't done as Martin again helped the Bruins increase their lead with a nice pass to striker Abby Davis who finished the play to make it 3-0. Minutes later, Davis struck again off an assist from Caralise Roach as the Bruins were in complete control 4-0.
With just minutes remaining in the half, PIU needed to do something to get back into the game. They got their chance as a foul was called just outside the box awarding a direct kick. The PIU Bruins were able to convert on that opportunity as the first half ended 4-1.
In the second half, the Bruins came out looking to increase their lead. Abby Davis recorded her second hat trick of the week as the senior scored off an assist from Kayla Romeiser as the Bruins pushed their lead 5-1. Davis then tied her personal Bruins' record as she netted her fourth goal of the match with Kristyn Rygh assisting as the Bruins were rolling 6-1. Despite a PK goal and a late goal by PIU, the BJU Bruins dominated from start to finish as the match ended 6-3.
"We had a few brief mental lapses but otherwise we were able to give some more minutes to some players and the team collectively stepped up big for the win." Coach Carmichael said. "Our possession play got better as the game wore on but we still need to get technically sharper."
Abby Davis had four goals in the match while Bailey Martin had a solid day with two goals and one assist. With the win, the Bruins improve to 3-4-1 on the season. The team will have the chance to climb back to .500 on Friday night as they welcome Columbia International University to Alumni Stadium.
