Opponent:
Salem at St. Andrews | September 6 | 4 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPIRITS
Sophomore Darilyn Nieto notched her third career hat trick, netting five goals in the process, as Salem soccer opened the 2023 season with a 7-0 victory over Hollins.

Nieto's five-goal performance equaled Tarryn Bundy's five-goal performance against Wesleyan (Ga.), which came on September 28, 2013, establishing the program record for goals in a match. Nieto finished the match with 11 shots, seven shots on goal, along the way.

First year Giselle Ramos also amassed four points in the match, netting a goal while handing out two assists. Meanwhile, the Salem defensive efforts were led by Mireya Sanchez and Marissa Doutrich (1-0-0) in net, who both tallied one save.

Ramos netted the first goal of the year for the Spirits, driving home a pass from Layla Locklear at the 49 second mark of the match. Nieto became an unstoppable force for the Spirits, netting the next five unanswered goals, starting with a strike at the 14:47 mark following a pass from Ramos.

Nieto followed with four unassisted goals in the 23rd, 27th, 49th and 58th-minute, as Salem established a 6-0 contest.

The final goal of the contest came from Nathaly Berrezueta, again following a feed from Ramos, to make for the 7-0 final.

Salem capped off the match with 27 shots, 14 shots on goal, while Hollins was limited to six shots (two shots on goal).

NIETO EARNS USA SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Three days after tying the program mark for most single-game goals (five), Salem sophomore forward Darilyn Nieto was named USA South Conference Player of the Week. The announcement came on Monday, September 4th, in a release from the league's office.

The distinction marks the fourth Player of the Week honor from the USA South Conference for Nieto, who claimed three consecutive Rookie of the Week awards in 2022 on September 5th, September 12th and September 19th. It marks the first Player of the Week honor for Nieto in her career, joining Brooke Bukas (twice) and Jordan Lanier as the only other Spirits to receive the award.

DUPLICATE HAT TRICKS???
There are five players with multiple hat tricks in Salem soccer history, including Sawyer Ferguson (4), Darilyn Nieto (3), Maddie Crumpton (2), Jordan Lanier (2) and Ellie Montes (2).

Entering Wednesday's clash with St. Andrews, none of these five individuals have ever had back-to-back hat tricks in program history. Only Nieto and Crumpton have amassed two hat tricks in the same season. Nieto accomplished the feat on September 6, 2022 (vs. Sweet Briar) before replicating her four-game performance against the Vixens by doing the same at Agnes Scott on September 18th.

Crumpton netted three goals against both Eastern Mennonite (September 15) and Wesleyan (Ga.) (October 15) in the 2015 campaign.

Nieto has the opportunity, with a hat trick against St. Andrews, to become the first player in program history to achieve hat tricks in consecutive matches.

FIRST-EVER CLASH WITH ST. ANDREWS
Wednesday afternoon marks the first-ever meeting between Salem and St. Andrews on the pitch.

STARTING OUT WITH TWO WINS ON THE SEASON
Salem soccer is looking to open the season with a 2-0 mark for the eighth time in program history when facing the Knights.

A victory on Tuesday would mark the third time in as many seasons under Robin Ramirez that the Spirits have opened with a 2-0 record. In 2021, Salem started Ramirez's tenure on the sidelines with triumphs over Warren Wilson (9-0) and Agnes Scott (8-0). The following season, Ramirez led his unit to wins at Regent (9-0) and Sweet Briar (8-0) to kick off the 2022 season.

Salem has never opened a season 2-0 in three straight seasons in program history.