PULASKI, Tenn. – Playing their first-ever home match in the Southern States Athletic Conference, No. 0 Martin Methodist scored two first-half goals and hung on to knock off Auburn-Montgomery at the East Campus Soccer Complex Saturday afternoon.
The RedHawks (7-1, 3-0 SSAC) wasted little time in seizing control of the match, striking for the opening score in the 11th minute when Lauren Badalamente took a pass from Rachel Blackney, turned and rifled it past the Warhawk goalkeeper.
After a scoreless stretch over the next 18 minutes, the RedHawks added a second goal from captain Jennifer Loewen, who headed home a cross from Anthoula Papaiaonnou into the upper right corner to extend the lead to 2-0 in the 30th minute.
The Warhawks would not go quietly, as they found their way onto the scoresheet with just minutes before the half when Alexandra Sveinsdottir took a pass from Glenn Brady and slipped it just beyond the outstretched arms of RedHawk goalkeeper Aisling Dyer.
In the second half, the RedHawks continued to press the action, forcing the Warhawks to retreat.
And while neither team was able to scratch across a second half tally, the RedHawks outshot the Warhawks (6-3, 2-1) 6-1 over the match's final 45 minutes.
For the match, the RedHawks enjoyed a commanding 12-4 edge in the shot department, including a 6-2 shots on goal advantage.
Dyer made one save while picking up her fifth win of the season in net for the RedHawks, who pulled within one game of tying the all-time series against the Warhawks (6-5).
"We have had an extremely long week with three matches in seven days," RedHawks head coach Tyson John said. "It felt great to cap this week off with a great win over a very strong Auburn-Montgomery side here at home."
With Family Day 2013 festivities being held at the East Campus, the RedHawks enjoyed a tremendous crowd in their first-ever home conference tilt.
"We have some of the most amazing fans here at Martin Methodist," John said. "We had tremendous support this afternoon with Family Day, club soccer teams, coaches, parents, staff, faculty and fans. It was truly an honor to play well in front of our great supporters today."
With the win, the RedHawks picked up their sixth consecutive win and improved to 3-1 this season at the East Campus. The win also kept the RedHawks atop the SSAC standings with a perfect 3-0 conference record and marked the fourth RedHawk win of the year over a team receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
The RedHawks return to action Oct. 3 when they host Southern Wesleyan (S.C.) in another SSAC showdown. Kickoff in Thursday's match is set for 5 p.m. at the East Campus Soccer Complex.
