Johnson & Wales vs. Salem | Saturday, September 10th | 2:00 p.m.
Varsity Field | Winston-Salem, N.C.
LAST TIME OUT
Salem made the short trip to Averett and suffered their first setback of the season, 2-1, in a non-conference battle with the Cougars.
SALEM vs. JOHNSON & WALES
The match marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Salem did compete against Johnson & Wales (Rhode Island) campus on September 9, 2012, in the Fort Rapids Tournament that was held in Columbus, Ohio.
ANALYZING JOHNSON & WALES
The Wildcats have squared off against two USA South Conference opponents—William Peace and N.C. Wesleyan—in their first two contests. Johnson & Wales suffered a 2-0 setback to the Pacers in the season opener, before falling by a 4-2 margin to N.C. Wesleyan on Wednesday, September 7th.
Jayden Price leads the Wildcats in scoring, netting both goals on the season, resulting in four points. She has attempted seven shots (five shots on goal) and is responsible for a .714 shots on goal percentage.
In net, Leah Bragaw has logged all 180 minutes for Johnson & Wales, coming through with 25 saves (.806 save percentage) and allowed six goals against.
VARSITY FIELD ADVANTAGE
The Spirits are looking to win their first two home matches to open a season for the ninth time in program history. From 2009, the second year of the program, through 2017, Salem managed to win back-to-back home matches to open the year every season with the exception of the 2013 campaign. Salem has not accomplished the feat since 2017, when the Spirits downed Agnes Scott and Eastern Mennonite at Varsity Field to open the season.
UPWARD TRAJECTORY
One of Salem head coach Robin Ramirez's buzz words is trajectory. His 2022 unit has seen an upward trajectory in the play of a quartet of offensive players—Alyson Gammons, Ashley Linden, Layla Locklear and Olivia Nivens.
Through the first three matches, Gammons has already doubled her number of assists (two) from a season ago and netted one goal. With four points to her credit she is half way to her 2021 mark.
Linden, who ranks second on the team in goals (four) behind Darilyn Nieto's five, has established a single-season career best in goals and points (eight). She is responsible for a 1.000 shots on goal percentage (seven shots on goal) this season.
Locklear has helped provide balance in the offense this season as well, equaling her 2021 mark in goals (two) and is one shy of her single-season assist mark (two) and total points (six).
One of the biggest additions to the offense in 2022 from a season ago is Nivens. The Lonestar State native scored goals against both Regent and Sweet Briar, marking the first of her career, resulting in six points. Additionally, her speed is a concern for opposing defenses, as is her .625 shots on goal percentage in 2022.
