>OPPONENT: 
Salem at Mary Baldwin | October 2 | 4:00 p.m. 

>SALEM SEARCHING FOR FIRST LEAGUE WIN AT MARY BALDWIN
After posting four wins during 2024 non-conference play, the Salem soccer team heads to Staunton, Va., in search of its first USA South Conference triumph of the campaign on Wednesday evening. The two teams will meet on the pitch at 4 p.m. 

>NIETO BECOMES CAREER LEADER IN GOALS SCORED IN CLASH VERSUS METHODIST
Ten years after establishing the program mark in career goals, Sawyer Ferguson was passed by Darilyn Nieto as the all-time leader in that category in Salem history. Nieto ascended to the top of the program's goal scoring list when she netted her 17th goal of the season in the 88th-minute of the clash with Methodist. 

However, Methodist capitalized on a pair of second half goals to stretch its winning streak against Salem to five matches when the two teams met in Fayetteville, N.C., claiming the 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon in USA South Conference action. 

The venue, switched to Fayetteville, N.C., after storms from Hurricane Helene left Varsity Field unplayable for the two teams on Saturday afternoon. 

Kelsey Burge recorded the first goal of the match when she drove a shot to the lower left past Spirits goalkeeper Marissa Doutrich, following an assist from Corrine Shovlain. 

Just over 24 minutes later, Quierra Hawkins converted a pass by Mackenzie Meekins into a goal, driving a shot to the right side of Doutrich, as the Monarchs extended their lead to 2-0. 

Nieto's program-setting goal came in the 88th-minute, which moved her within two goals of Ferguson's all-time single-season goals scored mark of 19. Ferguson established that mark in 2012. 

Nieto finished with five shots on the afternoon, including four shots on goal. Salem tallied nine shots on the day, including seven shots on goal, as a unit. 

Methodist countered with 30 shots (13 SOG) with the trio of Shovlain (five shots), Burge (four) and Allye Carter (four) leading the way. Shovlain led the way for the Monarchs with three shots on goal. 

Kaylea Carter and Carolina Simpkins combined for six saves for the Monarchs with Simpkins making four during her 45-minute stint in net. Doutrich tallied 11 saves in net for the Spirits. 

>NIETO NOW CHASING FERGUSON FOR MOST GOALS IN SINGLE SEASON
Darilyn Nieto has scored at least one goal in seven of her eight matches this season for the Spirits, giving her 17 on the campaign. 

Nieto, who was scoreless in a setback to Johnson & Wales (September 14) sits two goals shy of Sawyer Ferguson's single-season goal scored record (19), which came in 2019. Nieto, who has scored at least 14 goals in each of her three seasons at Salem, is the only player in program history with that distinction. 

>QUITE A FIRST (YEAR) IMPRESSION
Another offensive weapon for the Salem soccer arsenal this season has been first year Alexia Valente-Arreola. She has tallied four goals and is second on the team in that category behind Nieto. 

Valente-Arreola notched her first collegiate goal in a 4-2 victory over Agnes Scott, scoring in the 47th-minute of play. She followed that with a goal in the Spirits' 6-1 defeat of Wesleyan (Ga.), giving her two on the season. 

Valente-Arreola's third strike of the season was the fifth of a seven-goal outing against Warren Wilson on September 3rd. She then added her fourth in a 5-2 victory over Sweet Briar as she helped the Spirits grab a 3-1 lead at the intermission with a goal in the 43rd-minute. 

>ROE SOLID IN NET FOR SALEM
Another first year to make her mark on the Salem lineup for head coach Robin Ramirez is Addie Roe. Roe has stepped up as a leader in net for the Spirits, making 43 saves among the 97 shots that she has faced in five matches in 2024. 

Roe claimed her first collegiate victory in net against Wesleyan, converting three saves along the way. She followed that with a five-save outing against Warren Wilson (Sept. 13), claiming her second victory. 

The Glade Hill, Va., native, who made her first appearance in the Commonwealth of Virginia while earning the start against Sweet Briar, as she made 17 saves in the victory. That marked the sixth-most saves in Salem history. 

Roe has a pair of nine-save outings in clashes with both Johnson & Wales as well as Southern Virginia, giving her 20 more than teammate Marissa Doutrich on the season

>SCOUTING REPORT—MARY BALDWIN
Mary Baldwin, which has split its last two outings, sits at 2-4-2 overall and 1-1-0 when facing USA South Conference opposition in 2024. 

The Fighting Squirrels claimed their first win in league action when they emerged 2-1 against William Peace at home, resulting in their home win of the season. However, they suffered a setback by the same margin at N.C. Wesleyan on Sunday afternoon when the two met in Rocky Mount, N.C. 

Harmony Crawford is one of six Fighting Squirrels to score at least one goal this season, leading the team with four. Teammates Stori Maybank and Sara Gruntowicz, who have three and two goals, respectively, round out the Top-3 scorers. Crawford has taken advantage of 19 shots (11 shots on goal), coming through with a .579 shot on goal percentage. 

Maddy Vinson is the only person to play between the pipes for Mary Baldwin in the eight matches this season. Vinson has accrued 23 saves (.605 save percentage) and faced 81 shots over the course of the slate.