WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Courtney Chaplin enjoyed the first two-goal match of her career, while assisting on another, and played an integral role in helping lead Salem to its fourth shutout of the 2019 season as the Spirits downed visiting Averett by a 4-0 margin at Varsity Field on Saturday afternoon.
Chaplin was one of three Spirits to net a goal in the contest, along with Rachel Black and Baylee Greenwood. Defensively, Salem (6-4-1, 2-1 USA South) was led in goal by the tandem of Hannah Wagner (one save) and Jordan Tomberlin as the Spirits limited Averett to a total of four shots over the course of the match.
Black, with her second goal of the season, provided the Spirits with a 1-0 lead in the contest when she drove home a pass by Chaplin from 20 yards out at the 12:46 mark. Salem took that one-goal advantage into the intermission despite attempting 17 total shots in the first half.
Chaplin's first goal of the second half, which came by virtue of a series of passes from Black and Martha Santos, stretched the Spirit lead to 2-0 at the 63:27 mark.
Just over nine minutes later, Chaplin converted her second goal of the game, fifth of her career, when she spun past the Averett defender and drove a shot into the left side of the goal past Morgann Dills for the 3-0 Spirit lead.
Greenwood tacked on the fourth Salem goal of the game at the 82:35 mark when she netted her third goal of the season from eight yards out on a pass from Natalia Alvarez.
The Salem defense was on point throughout the contest, limiting the Cougars (0-12-0, 0-3 USA South) to four shots over the course of the match. Three of those shots came in the first half as Salem finished with a 29-4 edge in shots.
Wagner improved to 4-2-1 on the season in net for Salem, laying claim to her fourth shutout in the process, with the only save of the game for the Spirits.
For more information on Salem soccer check out www.salemspirits.com.