MARS HILL, NC – UVA Wise improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in South Atlantic Conference play as they devoured the Mars Hill Lions 17-5 Wednesday afternoon. Caitlin Schultz became the eighth Highland Cavalier to pass 100 career goals during the win.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 17, Mars Hill 5
Records: UVA Wise (6-1, 2-0 SAC); Mars Hill (3-2, 0-1 SAC)
Location: Mars Hill, NC | Meares Stadium
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Highland Cavaliers opened the scoring with a free position goal by
Caitlyn Schultz at 13:12, her 100th career goal. The Lions quickly responded with a free position goal by Abby Cleveland at 12:28. Schultz added another goal for the Cavs at 10:37, putting them back in front. Later,
Parker Cribbs extended the lead with a man-up goal assisted by
Taylor Thompson at 5:58. Despite a goal by Mars Hill's Cleveland at 2:25, UVA Wise closed the quarter strongly with goals from
Alexis Hilstrom, assisted by Cribbs at 1:21, and
Noley Hiller at 0:57, ending the first quarter with a 5-2 advantage.
- The Cavs dominated the second quarter, scoring seven goals to extend their lead over the Lions. Hiller opened the scoring with a goal at 14:38, assisted by Thompson.
Leslie Clay and Schultz each added to the tally, with Schultz's goal also facilitated by Thompson.
Issie Brown found the net on a man-up opportunity at 3:29, assisted by Clay, before Hiller closed the quarter with two more goals, the last coming at 1:28, assisted by Brown. Mars Hill managed only one goal in response, scored by Cierra Ledeen at 6:24. The half ended with the Cavs leading 12-3.
- UVA Wise extended their lead in the third quarter with a series of successful offensive plays against the Lions. Schultz scored twice, with her first goal assisted by Brown at 13:34, and followed up with another goal assisted by Thompson at 10:46. Clay added to the tally with a goal at 2:26.
Abby Schrafft capped the quarter's scoring with a goal at 00:37, assisted by Hilstrom. Mars Hill managed to break through with a free position goal by Cleveland at 8:02, but it was not enough to shift the momentum. At the end of the quarter, the Cavs led 16-4.
- Mars Hill's Brooklyn Nemitz opened the final quarter with a goal from a free position shot at 14:27, increasing the home team's score. Despite a series of turnovers and penalties from both teams, the Lions maintained their efforts. UVA Wise responded with intense defensive efforts, including a turnover caused by
Jaylah Gray, and Thompson's ground ball pickups and clears. The quarter concluded with a man-up goal by Brown, assisted by Hiller, at just two seconds remaining, bringing the final score to 17-5 in favor of the Cavs.
GETTING WISE
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Caitlyn Schultz had five goals to lead the team. She finished the day with 104 career goals, passing both Carolyn Earnshaw and Grace Gollatt on the career scoring list. She is now in sixth place on the career scoring list, five goals behind former teammate
Abby Stoffelen.
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Noley Hiller scored four goals and had an assist to improve her career total to 80 goals and 19 assists, or 99 points. She currently ranks 15th in the all-time points list.
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Issie Brown,
Leslie Clay, and
Abby Schrafft chipped in two goals apiece, with Brown also dishing out two assists.
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Taylor Thompson had five assists to lead the team.
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Alexis Hilstrom and
Riley Smith had three ground balls apiece, with Hilstrom also winning a game-high four draws.
- The Cavs out-shot the Lions 33-12 (20-3 on goal) and out-drew MHU 14-7.
UP NEXT
The Cavs will play their final two non-conference games as part of a Spring Break road swing as they play at Southern Wesleyan next Monday and Young Harris on Wednesday.
