WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After earning a decisive 9-0 victory in Wednesday's season opener at Warren Wilson, the Salem soccer team returns home to Winston-Salem to host Agnes Scott and Guilford in a series of weekend matches at Varsity Field. The Spirits welcome fellow USA South Conference foe Agnes Scott on Saturday at 4 p.m. before making the quick turnaround to face off against Guilford in a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

The Spirits, who captured their season opener by virtue of a shutout for just the third time in program history, are looking to replicate the start of the 2016 squad by winning three straight matches to open the slate. The 2016 unit rattled off five straight victories to open the slate, which marks the longest winning streak to open a season in program history, triumphing over Ferrum, Eastern Mennonite and Guilford to start 3-0 on the season.

RECAPPING THE WIN OVER WARREN WILSON: Senior Ellie Montes, who recorded her first career hat trick, along with teammates Baylee Greenwood and Alyson Gammons, who finished with two goals apiece, were the juggernauts in the Salem offensive attack that netted nine goals against the Owls.

Montes became the 12th different Spirit to record a hat trick in program history and first since Jae Laeman, who drove home three goals in a victory over Mary Baldwin on October 26, 2019. Greenwood also established a single-game career-high in goals after scoring one in each half for Salem. Gammons, who also netted one goal in each half for the Spirits, was taking part in the first match of her Salem career.

The shutout victory allowed head coach Robin Ramirez to join Jay Callahan as the only two coaches in program history to open their careers with a win. Ramirez also became the first coach since Callahan to open a season with a shutout.

Sophomore Alexcina Wartski, who picked up the win in net for Salem, finished with five saves in the first half. Teammate Jordan Tomberlin came on to make three saves for the Spirits, who limited Warren Wilson to 10 shots in the contest.

HEAD COACH ROBIN RAMIREZ'S THOUGHTS ON THE WEEKEND: "I thought the team responded well in our first regular season game after our preseason game last weekend. It's exciting to be around this team that even in their victory are eager to continue learning and improving."

PREVIEWING THE OPPOSITION

Agnes Scott (0-1-0): Agnes Scott got off to a rough start in the season opener, suffering a 7-0 loss at Oglethorpe on Wednesday evening. The Scotties attempted two shots on goal, which came from Isis Franklin and Sabina Gentry, and were limited to three shots total in the contest. Ashley Kopczyk faced 20 shots on goal in net for Agnes Scott, converting 13 saves in 90 minutes of action.

The two schools, both former members of the Great South Atlantic Conference, have faced off 17 times dating back to the 2009 campaign. The Spirits are 9-0-1 all-time against Agnes Scott at Varsity Field with the lone tie coming on November 4, 2012. Salem has won 10 of the last 11 matches in the series, a streak that began with a 4-0 win at Agnes Scott. The winning streak reached 10 straight with a 5-0 victory by the Spirits on September 7, 2017, before a 3-2 triumph by the Scotties on September 8, 2019.

Salem All-Time Series vs. Agnes Scott
Salem leads series 14-2-1

Guilford (1-0-0): The Guilford College women's soccer team opened the 2021 season in style, blanking William Peace 1-0 on the road. Junior Crystal Rivas was credited with the lone goal of the contest.

After a scoreless first half, Rivas was able to the find the back of the goal in the 65th minute of the contest. The Charlotte, N.C. native led her team offensively recording four of its seven shots on goal. She also led the count in total shots with six. Standing guard at the other end of the field, Ady Franken recorded four saves en route to her first shutout of the season.

Salem owns a decisive 6-1 advantage in the all-time series between the two programs, winning the first six meetings. The Quakers responded with a 3-0 victory in the most recent meeting, which took place at Guilford on September 4, 2019. Salem has won all three contests played between the two at Varsity Field.

Salem All-Time Series vs. Guilford
Salem leads series 6-1-0