FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Senior Alyssa Denkovich came through with her second goal of the season at an opportune time, at the 94th-minute of a clash with USA South Conference rival Methodist, to help the Salem soccer team clinch second place in the league's East Division standings and a first round bye following a 1-0 overtime victory in Fayetteville, N.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
Denkovich tallied her first goal for the Spirits since a match at Agnes Scott on Sept. 8, in the overtime frame. With the Salem offense attacking the ball popped outside the 18-yard box and landed in front of Denkovich, who drove home the goal from 35 yards out between the crossbar and the extended hands of Methodist goalkeeper Maggie Hunt.
The Spirits, who improved to 10-5-1 overall and 5-2-0 in the USA South Conference on the season, extended their winning streak to four straight with wins over N.C. Wesleyan (3-1), William Peace (2-1), Piedmont International (2-1) and the Monarchs in succession. Additionally, Salem wraps up the regular season 6-3 in road games, and picks up its fifth shutout of the season. It is the most shutouts by the Spirits since the 2017 slate, when they tallied nine.
Salem attempted 12 shots over the course of the match, including four shots on goal by the combination of Denkovich (two), Callie Adams and Ellie Montes. Salem attended six shots in the opening half and two in the overtime frame.
Methodist (7-5-1, 4-2-1 USA South) managed just nine shots in the contest, including three shots on goal. Two of those shots on goal came from Haley Bowles and the other came off the foot of Laura Harris. The Monarchs attempted six of their nine shots in the second half.
Salem's Hannah Wagner laid claim to her fifth shutout of the season as she improved to 6-3-1 in net. Wagner made three saves, marking the ninth time in 2019 that she has had at least three saves in a match. Wagner, who logged all 94:33 minutes in net, has the second-best single-season save percentage of her career (.800). Her best single-season save percentage came as a freshman, where she stopped 89.7 percent of the shots fired at her.
Salem wraps up the 2019 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 26, when the Spirits host Mary Baldwin at 2 p.m. The match will serve as a Senior Day for the eight Salem seniors. For more information check out www.salemspirits.com.