Site: Fayetteville, N.C.

Score: Methodist 5, Salem 2

Records: Salem (6-10-2) / Methodist (13-2-1)

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A pair of standout performances by Salem's Darilyn Nieto and Jordan Tomberlin were not enough to help the Spirits complete an upset of No. 1 seeded Methodist, who emerged with a 5-2 victory in the opening round of the USA South Conference Soccer Tournament, drawing Salem's season to a close.

Nieto netted two goals in the match for the Spirits, both in the second half inside the final 10 minutes, to finish with 14 strikes on the season. It marks the third-most goals in a single-season by a Salem first-year, one fewer than Alexi Saganich (2010) and Tarryn Johnson (2014) scored in their respective rookie campaigns.

While Nieto provided the offense, Tomberlin anchored the defense for Salem with 10 saves. It marked the third time in the 2022 season that the Merritt Island, Florida, native reached double-digit saves. She twice tallied 11 saves against Johnson & Wales (Sept. 10) and Randolph (Sept. 14).

Methodist, which improved to 13-2-1 overall and 8-0-0 at home this season, netted the first goal of the match inside the first minute when Corrine Shovlain drove a pass from Natalia Marshall-Hewitt to the high right. In the seventh minute, the Monarchs extended their lead to 2-0 with Shovlain's second goal, again following a pass from Marshall-Hewitt.

The final goal of the first half for Methodist came in the 10-minute mark, when Tatiana Lourenco-Shiber found the back of the net for the 3-0 Monarch lead.

Methodist extended its lead to 4-0 just over six minutes into the second half with a second goal from Lourenco-Shiber, who this time received a pass from Alyssa Morrell. The final goal of the match for the Monarchs came in the 53rd-minute following a shot from Laura Harris, which resulted in a 5-0 advantage.

Nieto scored her first of two goals for Salem in the 83rd-minute and tacked on the second in the 85th-minute, both unassisted.

Salem finished off the match with 12 shots, including eight in the second half. Meanwhile, Methodist came through with 23 shots, receiving 13 in the opening frame. Seven of the 12 shots for Salem were shots on goal, including a team-high six from Nieto. The Monarchs closed with 15 shots on goal offensively.

SALEM NOTES
-It marked the third time in the 2022 season that the Jordan Tomberlin reached double-digit saves. She twice tallied 11 saves against Johnson & Wales (Sept. 10) and Randolph (Sept. 14).
-The match brings to a close the Salem careers of Jordan Tomberlin, Alexcina Wartski, Kylie Clark, Miriam Moctezuma and Alyson Gammons.
-Nieto netted two goals in the match for the Spirits, both in the second half inside the final 10 minutes, to finish with 14 strikes on the season. It marks the third-most goals in a single-season by a Salem first-year, one fewer than Alexi Saganich (2010) and Tarryn Johnson (2014) scored in their respective rookie campaigns.

Salem All-Time First Year Goal Scoring Leaders