MC Advances to Semifinals with 4-2 Victory Over Greensboro

The Maryville College Lady Scots soccer program exploded for three goals in the second half to earn a 4-2 victory over Greensboro College in the first round of the USA South Women's Soccer Championships on the Maryville College campus on Sunday afternoon.

The Pride of Greensboro College (9-8-1) took an early lead just before the 23^rd minute when Samara Alba found Melanie Raton. Raton stopped and popped her ninth goal of the season from about 30 yards out on the right side of the goal.

Maryville answered twelve minutes later when Allyson Hale dribbled coast-to-coast down the left side and planted her 14^th goal past Greensboro keeper Jessica Thatcher.

The quarterfinal match went to the half tied 1-1.

The Scots took the lead quickly after intermission when a cross and a shot hit the crossbar and Gabby Billstrom collected the rebound and planted her 5^th goal of the season at the 54:24 mark. Only two minutes later, Billstrom found Allyson Hale and the speedy attacker this time used her accuracy to connect from about 20 yards out at the 56:26 mark.

Greensboro pulled closer when Lauren Greeson collected a crossed save and hit the back of the net for her 6^th goal of the season at the 59^th minute.

MC put the game out of reach in the 62^nd minute when Kirsten Alcorn found Monica Besbris in front of the net for her 2^nd goal of the season.

Maryville College Head Soccer Coach Pepe Fernandez had this to say about the hard fought victory. "It's good. We didn't play very well. They scored a fantastic goal, and I thought, really, they outplayed us for the first 20 minutes. I don't know if it was because of the result last time, or what, but you get in these tournament games, and we've seen all these upsets on the men's and women's side. It was nice to bounce back in the second half — able to figure out a way to do it. A lot of people contributed."

Fernandez also commented on Hale's pair of goal: "She's been phenomenal," Fernandez said. "We didn't have her the last time against them, and I think she kind of took it personally. She really showed up big. We played some good balls into her to get the goals, and I think the second two goals, even, were just some great passes, along with some great individual play."

Maryville (12-6-1) advances to the USA South semifinals to challenge the No.1 seeded Meredith College at Smith River Sports Complex in Martinsville, Virginia at 5:00 p.m.