WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem soccer team used a pair of first half goals by Callie Adams and Gina Franco to advance to the USA South Conference Semifinal round following a 2-0 victory over Piedmont at Varsity Field on Saturday, Nov. 2. The win by the Spirits puts them into the semifinal round and sets up a meeting with No. 1 West Division seed Maryville on Friday, Nov. 8.

Adams punched home the first goal of the game at the 11:14 mark when she drove home a rebound shot, following a free kick by teammate Alyssa Denkovich. Adams, who separated herself in the pack from Martha Santos, booted the ball into the back of the net for the early 1-0 lead.

The Spirits (12-5-1) extended their lead to 2-0 just before the intermission when Franco converted a header into the left side of the goal by virtue of a Denkovich pass at 39:50.

Senior goalkeeper Hannah Wagner was also an integral part of the Salem victory on Saturday, making 14 saves along the way. The 14-save effort by Wagner ties her single-match career-high, which came against Lynchburg on Oct. 14, 2018. She now has five double-digit save performances over the course of her four-year stint at Salem.

Wagner and the Salem defense endured 27 shots by Piedmont (14-7-1), which made 14 shots on goal over the course of the match. Despite 19 shots (nine shots on goal) in the second half, Piedmont was unable to penetrate the Spirit goal, as Salem posted its sixth shutout of the season.

Salem, which attempted 10 shots (four shots on goal), had two players with multiple shots in the match. One was senior Amy Bounds, who made three shots, and the other was Baylee Greenwood, who attempted two shots.

The Spirits will now head to the USA South Semifinals for a clash with Maryville, who is the No. 1 seed out of the West Division. The match is set for Friday, Nov. 8.