WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Three days after concluding a four-match road swing with a 1-0 setback to Ferrum, the Salem soccer team returns to Varsity Field on the Salem campus to face USA South Conference member Covenant at 1 p.m.
The Spirits, who return home with a 4-3 overall mark after suffering a 1-0 overtime setback to Ferrum on Wednesday, are 1-1 at Varsity Field this season. After claiming an 8-0 victory over Agnes Scott on September 4th, Salem returned to the pitch the following afternoon and fell 2-1 to Guilford in its most recent home match.
TOMBERLIN RECORDS EIGHT SAVES VERSUS PANTHERS: Ferrum's Madison Cruz delivered the game-winning overtime goal in the 93rd-minute of play, breaking a scoreless tie, as the Panthers earned the 1-0 victory, their first of the 2021 season.
The Salem defense was highlighted by the performance of goalkeepers Alexcina Wartski and Jordan Tomberlin, who both established single-match career-highs in saves during their time in net. Wartski capped off the night with six saves, while Tomberlin emerged with eight saves in 47:33 in net. Tomberlin broke her single-match career-high in saves by two, topping her previous mark of six, which came against Guilford on September 4, 2019.
The Salem offense was unable to find its rhythm in the setback, attempting 12 shots (five shots on goal) over the course of the match. Alyson Gammons and Baylee Greenwood attempted three shots each, combining for three shots on goal between them, while Caelan Gual finished the match with two shots, both on goal.
BREAKING DOWN THE SALEM LINEUP: Despite suffering its first shutout since a 1-0 loss to Pfeiffer on October 9, 2019, Salem still has a 24-7 edge in scoring over its opposition this season. The Salem lineup has four players with multiple goals on the season, including Baylee Greenwood (seven), Ellie Montes (six), Alyson Gammons (three) and Mikalynne Shell (two). Six other Spirits have one goal each.
Salem has attempted 107 shots over the course of the first seven matches, including 57 shots on goal, giving the Spirits a .553 shot on goal percentage.
The Spirits' defense is anchored by the trio of Jordan Tomberlin, Alexcina Wartski and Tori Long in net. Wartski and Tomberlin share the team lead in saves (21), while Long leads the way in goalkeeper wins with four.
SALEM HEAD COACH ROBIN RAMIREZ PREVIEWS THE WEEKEND: "With only a couple more matches before conference play begins, this weekend gives us another good opportunity to improve on what we have been working on from the start of preseason. After going almost two years without a season, the team has done a great job coming together as a family and playing as one. Covenant is bringing a well balanced team, so it is important we stay focused and on our game for every minute on the field. I'm looking forward to watching a great game on Saturday."
TENTH ALL-TIME MEETING WITH COVENANT: Saturday's match marks the 10th all-time meeting between Salem and Covenant. The all-time series is evenly split with a 4-4-1 mark between the two units.
Salem has a 3-2 mark at home against the Scots, which includes a 5-4 win in the last meeting, which came on September 7, 2019. That victory halted a two-match winning streak by Covenant, both of which came in 2018. The Spirits also triumphed over Covenant at home on September 18, 2010 (1-0) and on October 16, 2012 (1-0). The lone tie in the series between the two programs also came at Salem, while both were members of the Great South Athletic Conference, when they battled to a 1-1 tie on October 18, 2011.
All-Time Series (vs. Covenant)
(Series tied 4-4-1)
| Date | Year | Opponent | Result | Home Score | Opp. Score | OT |
| Sept. 18 | 2010 | vs. Covenant | W | 1 | 0 | |
| Oct. 18 | 2011 | vs. Covenant @ | T | 1 | 1 | 2 OT |
| Oct. 16 | 2012 | vs. Covenant @ | W | 1 | 0 | |
| Sept. 29 | 2012 | at Covenant @ | L | 0 | 1 | |
| Sept. 17 | 2016 | at Covenant * | L | 0 | 1 | |
| Oct. 22 | 2016 | vs. Covenant * | W | 1 | 0 | |
| Sept. 29 | 2018 | vs. Covenant | L | 1 | 3 | |
| Oct. 27 | 2018 | vs. Covenant # | L | 0 | 2 | |
| Sept. 7 | 2019 | at Covenant | W | 5 | 4 |
ANALYZING COVENANT ENTERING THE WEEKEND: The Scots have lost three of their last four matches, dating back to a clash with Berry on September 8th. Berry handed Covenant its second shutout loss of the season (3-0), but the Scots rebounded to claim a 3-1 win over Bridgewater two days later.
Covenant (2-4) has been outscored by a combined 7-0 margin in its last two matches, suffering a 1-0 setback to Southern Virginia on September 11th and a 6-0 defeat to Emory earlier this week on Tuesday.
The duo of Kailey Burrell and Leah Marr in goals with four and two strikes, respectively. Burrell has also handed out two assists, giving her a team-best 10 points on the slate.
Lucy Sandhoff leads Covenant in net with 36 saves on the season, helping her to claim a team-high two wins in net.