WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem soccer team returns to the road on Wednesday evening when it makes the short trip to Pfeiffer for a 6 p.m. match at Meisenheimer, N.C. It marks the seventh road match of the season for Salem, which is 3-3 away from Varsity Field in 2021.

The Spirits (5-7, 1-2 USA South) posted their last road victory (2-0) at Sweet Briar, on September 12th. Since that point, Salem has dropped road contests against both Ferrum and Methodist, both by 1-0 margins, along with a neutral site game against Carolina University (2-1). Wednesday's clash with Pfeiffer is the first of four road matches for Salem in October.

Pfeiffer (0-8, 0-3 USA South) is hosting just its second home match of the season, the first for the Falcons since they dropped a 1-0 overtime decision to Greensboro on September 25th. Pfeiffer has dropped its last nine decisions, dating back to a 2-0 loss to The Pride on April 20, 2021. Prior to that, Pfeiffer was 3-0-1 against the combination of Greensboro (T, 0-0, 2OT), Meredith (W, 2-0), Averett (W, 3-0) and Methodist (W, 2-0) between March 20, 2021 and April 3, 2021.

SALEM THROUGH THREE USA SOUTH MATCHES: Two Spirits, Baylee Greenwood and Ashley Linden, have scored one goal each in the first three matches of the USA South Conference slate. Greenwood has attempted nine shots, including five shots on goal (.556 SOG%), in clashes against Methodist, Greensboro and Averett.

Linden has equaled her teammate with a penalty kick goal in Saturday's meeting with Averett, one of only two shots on goal for the first year standout in league play this season.

Defensively, Salem is led by Jordan Tomberlin, who has made 25 saves in a trio of USA South matches. Allowing just four goals in those three contests, two of which she was the starter, has provided Tomberlin with a .862 save percentage. Alexcina Wartski has made three saves in one USA South match in 2021.

ANALYZING PFEIFFER IN 2021: Pfeiffer has squared off against Greensboro (1-0), Methodist (2-1) and N.C. Wesleyan, all resulting losses in USA South Conference play this season. The Falcons have been outscored 22-1 in eight matches this season.

The lone Falcon goal came off the foot of Julia Hayes, while the only assist was delivered by Morgan Cecil. Haley Hanson-Fridley has seen action in five matches this season for Pfeiffer, finishing with 39 saves in 450 minutes.

Wednesday marks the fourth all-time meeting with the Falcons, who hold a 2-1-0 edge in the all-time series. Salem won the first-ever match between the two USA South Conference programs in 2017, by a 2-1 margin, but Pfeiffer followed with back-to-back wins in 2018 (3-1) and 2019 (1-0).

All-Time Series (vs. Pfeiffer)
(Pfeiffer leads 2-1-0)