GREENWOOD, S.C. – In the team's final nonconference matchup of the season, the Converse University women's soccer team (2-4-2, 0-3-1 Conference Carolinas) captured a road victory over the No. 7 team in the southeast region, the Lander Bearcats (5-2, 1-1 Peach Belt), by a final score of 3-2. Junior defender Elsa Jové scored the game-sealing goal with six minutes to play.
Three goals is the highest total by the Valkyries through eight games in 2023. It is also the most since the team reached the same total on Oct. 11, 2022 against Erskine, also a 3-2 victory.
Despite holding a 25-4 advantage in shots, 13-3 when only comparing shots on goal, Lander was only able to find the back of the net twice. Converse freshman goalkeeper Allie Nepomuceno recorded 12 saves on the day, her second-highest mark in the category for the season.
The Valkyries kicked off the scoring in the 18th minute when senior defender Brooklyn Galler extended her team lead in goals scored with her third of the season. Sixteen minutes later, freshman forward Drey Nesbitt netted the first goal of her collegiate career on an assist from senior midfielder Kaylee Couder. Despite a late own goal from the Valkyries in the first half, Converse entered the break up 2-1.
Lander did not go down without a fight as, 20 minutes into the second half, they evened the game with a strike past Nepomuceno. Despite being in a 5-1 shot deficit to the Bearcats over the next 19 minutes, the Valkyries only needed the one shot as Jové netted the decisive goal on an assist from sophomore defender Giulia Rodrigues-Franceschini.
The Bearcats attempted one more shot on goal following the Valkyries' 84th-minute goal. Nepomuceno recorded her final save of the match and Converse took the road victory 3-2.
The Valkyries are back on the pitch on Saturday, Sept. 30 as they host another team ranked in the southeast region poll, the No. 9 Francis Marion Patriots. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m.
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