WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After three years of serving as the head coach of the Salem soccer program, Octavia Saunders has accepted the role as the Assistant Head of Level 1 Girls & College Recruiting Coordinator at N.C. Fusion.

Saunders leaves the Salem program with 19 wins to her credit, including 11 on the home pitch at Varsity Field. She claimed 10 wins in USA South Conference play, including six in 2019.

Saunders and the Spirits wrapped up a solid 2019 season with a 12-6-1 mark, posting the best winning percentage (.631) of any coach in the first two years of their career in Salem soccer history. She guided the 2019 unit to the 10th-most goals (40) in a single-season in program history.

With Saunders manning the sidelines, Salem won six road games in 2019, tying the 2013 and 2017 units for third-most in a single-season. The Spirits reached the USA South Conference Semifinals after posting a 2-0 win over Piedmont on Nov. 2.

"Octavia will be missed by the Salem community but we are thrilled for her to be the first female college recruiting coordinator at NC Fusion," said Interim Director of Athletics Chelsey Stewart. "I know she will be back to cheer on Salem in the fall. Ocky elevated this program even more during her time at Salem."

NC Fusion serves the Triad region of North Carolina by providing sports programs for youth and adults. It formed in 2018 as the management company of Twin City Sports Association and Greensboro United Soccer Association. Both clubs have had a wonderful and deep history of success and impact in their respective communities in the Triad. By uniting the Triad through Sport, NC Fusion strives to build on that incredible history, continually improve, and seek to be a pioneer in the sports community.

In her first season on the sidelines, Saunders guided Salem to a 7-12 overall record, which included key USA South Conference victories against Meredith, N.C. Wesleyan, Methodist and William Peace. The Spirits, who posted five home wins during the slate, reached the first round of the USA South Conference tournament before bowing out to Covenant on Oct. 27.

Saunders brought a wealth of knowledge to the Spirits after spending three years as the assistant coach at Brevard College where under her coaching the Tornados reached a program-best 11-6-1 record and all-time best in NCAA era. While with the Tornados, she also worked for the North Carolina Olympic Development Program and the Highland Football Club.