Spirits Clinch USA South Tournament Berth as Nieto Scores 16th Goal of 2023

Final	1	2	T
Greensboro (9-5-4, 5-2-2)	2	2	4
Salem (3-8-4, 1-6-2)	0	1	1

Scoring Summary

1st - 23:28 - Svea Eckstrand (Greensboro)

1st - 37:12 - Maci Hulver (Greensboro)

2nd - 57:19 - Amery Skinner (Greensboro)

2nd - 69:19 - Darilyn Nieto (Salem)

2nd - 75:35 - Svea Eckstrand (Greensboro)

Game Leaders

Greensboro

G: Eckstrand, Svea - 2

A: Ramsey, Ella - 1

Sh: Ramsey, Ella - 8

Sv: Pagnamenta, Sofia - 2

Salem

G: Darilyn Nieto - 1

A: Layla Locklear - 1

Sh: Darilyn Nieto - 6

Sv: Mireya Sanchez - 18

Team Stats

Greensboro

Salem

Shots (on goal)

41 (22)

10 (3)

Saves

Fouls

Corner Kicks

Offsides

full stats

Posted: Oct 28, 2023

Site:
Winston-Salem, N.C. | Varsity Field

Score:
Greensboro 4, Salem 1

Records:
Salem (3-8-4, 1-6-2 USA South) / Greensboro (9-5-4, 5-2-2 USA South)

Up Next:
Salem vs. Southern Virginia | Buena Vista, Va. | October 31 | 6 p.m. | 2023 USA South Conference Tournament

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Despite a 4-1 setback to Greensboro on Senior Day at Salem, which honored the contributions of Layla Locklear and Isabel Scott to the soccer program, the Spirits clinched the eighth-place spot in the USA South Conference Tournament with a Mary Baldwin victory (2-1) over N.C. Wesleyan.

The Spirits have now clinched a spot in the league tournament in back-to-back seasons under the direction of head coach Robin Ramirez, giving Salem six appearances in the USA South Conference Tournament since joining the league in 2016. Salem will face first-seeded Southern Virginia in the opening match of the tournament on Tuesday, October 31st.

Salem's 2023 Senior Day contest was highlighted by a goal from sophomore Darilyn Nieto, who drove home a pass from Locklear in the 69th-minute. Nieto moved her goal total on the season to 16, which is second-most in a single-season in program history and three off the pace established by Sawyer Ferguson in 2012. Nieto did break a four-way tie with Alexi Saganich (2010), Tarryn Bundy (2013) and Tarryn Johnson (2014), who scored 15 goals each during a single season in their time as Spirits.

Nieto also moved her career goal total to 30, tying her alongside Tarryn Bundy for the fourth-most goals in program history.

Greensboro scored two goals in the opening frame, receiving a strike from Svea Eckstrand in the 23rd-minute, assuming the 1-0 advantage. Maci Hulver stretched the margin to 2-0 for The Pride in the 37th-minute, following a pass from teammate Ella Ramsey.

The Pride received their third goal from Amery Skinner, who stretched the margin to 3-0 in the 57th-minute on an unassisted goal. After Nieto found the back of the net for Salem in the 69th frame, Eckstrand recorded her second goal of the afternoon six minutes later to make for the 4-1 final.

Mireya Sanchez manned the net for Salem, making 18 saves along the way, while her counterpart, Sofia Pagnamenta tallied two saves for Greensboro.

Greensboro attempted 41 shots (22 shots on goal) in the match, with Ramsey attempting a team-best eight shots (three shots on goal). Salem had 10 shots over the course of the afternoon, six coming off the foot of Nieto.