>OPPONENTS: 
Salem vs. Pfeiffer | October 8 | 3:00 p.m. 
Salem vs. N.C. Wesleyan | October 12 | 2:00 p.m. 

>SALEM RETURNS HOME FOR USA SOUTH CONFERENCE PAIR
After playing its last two matches on the road, the Salem soccer team returns to Varsity Field for a series of matches with Pfeiffer (October 8) and N.C. Wesleyan (October 12) this week. The Spirits remain in search of their first victory at home in 2024, winning all four matches on the road. 

>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. 

Those 17 goals have placed Nieto in a three-way tie nationally for most goals by an individual. She is tied with Sarah Dullaghan (Emmanuel {Mass.}) and Laila Kendle (Saint Elizabeth) for the most goals by an NCAA Division III player nationally. 

>LOOKING BACK ON SALEM'S CLASH WITH MARY BALDWIN ON OCTOBER 2
Mary Baldwin capitalized on two first half goals to earn a 3-1 victory over Salem in USA South Conference action, when the two teams met at SMA Worth Field on Wednesday afternoon. 

Salem scored the first goal of the match when Giselle Ramos sent a shot into the back of the net in the ninth-minute to put the Spirits on the board. 

Caitlyn Brenner drove home a pass from Sara Gruntowicz in the 22nd-minute, scoring the equalizer for the Fighting Squirrels. Teammate Stori Maybank provided Mary Baldwin with the 2-1 lead at the intermission with a goal in the 28th-minute. 

The Fighting Squirrels capped off the first half with 13 shots (six SOG) while Salem countered with nine shots (four SOG). 

The final goal of the match came off the foot of Harmony Crawford, who drove home a pass from Gruntowicz, in the 70th-minute of action. 

Salem's Marissa Doutrich converted eight saves while her counterpart, Maddy Vinson, tallied three on the day. Mary Baldwin finished the match with 23 shots, including 11 shots on goal, while Salem countered with 12 (four SOG).

>GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGISELLLE
Salem sophomore Giselle Ramos has proven as an offensive threat in USA South Conference play for the team this season. 

Ramos is tied with Nieto for the most goals, two, in league action. Ramos netted her first goal of league play in a clash with Southern Virginia on September 24th. It came in dramatic fashion as she booted the goal to the back left corner of the net from 38 yards away. 

Two matches later, in a clash with Mary Baldwin on October 2nd, Ramos came through with her second goal of league play and third of the season. She finished that match with two shots, including her one attempt on goal. 

>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. 

>SCOUTING REPORT—PFEIFFER
Pfeiffer makes the trek to Winston-Salem in search of its first league victory of the season, boasting a 2-6 mark overall and an 0-2 record in USA South Conference play. 

The first league setback came at Greensboro (5-1) on September 28 and was followed by a 3-1 loss at the hands of N.C. Wesleyan on October 5th. 

Pfeiffer is led in goals scored by Khamani Spencer and Victoria Tita, who have notched four and two goals, respectively. Teammate Kaylee Ollis, who has logged a team-high 540 minutes in net leads Pfeiffer in saves with 44 on the season. 

>SCOUTING REPORT—N.C. WESLEYAN
The Battling Bishops begin the week tied for third in the USA South Conference standings with Meredith, trailing both Southern Virginia (3-0-1) and Brevard (2-0-1) with a 2-1-1 mark on the slate in league play. 

N.C. Wesleyan has won two of their last three outings, downing Mary Baldwin (2-1) and Pfeiffer (3-1), but suffering a 4-2 setback to Meredith on October 2nd. 

Four Battling Bishops have multiple goals on the season, including Eden Whiteside, who leads all scorers with six. Makena Meyer is second on the team with five, while Samantha Dell and Peyton Staub have three and two goals, respectively. 

Both Grace Walls and Olivia Dyjewski have logged at least 475 minutes in net for N.C. Wesleyan this season. The two have combined for 67 saves, with Dyjewski leading the way with 45.