Rocky Mount, N.C. - The N.C. Wesleyan women's soccer team celebrated its annual Tradition Never Graduates weekend on Saturday and Sunday, posting a pair of shutouts to wrap up the regular season. The Bishops downed Pfeiffer University on Saturday by a 2-0 score, then handed Johnson & Wales a 4-0 defeat on Sunday. Prior to Sunday's match, head coach Beverly Biancur honored the 12 senior members of her squad: Ashley Major, Stephanie Stallings, Lucia Davids, Diamond Ridgeway, Julia Rebellon, Shayla Thorne, Ashley Dunn, Morgan Townsend, Ella Burkhart, Hannah Tolson, Amanda Mazza, and Marissa Aguilar.
Versus Pfeiffer on Saturday, Wesleyan wasted no time getting on the board as Tolson booted home a through ball from Sarah Cook just 62 seconds into the match. The Bishops would strike again early in the second half thanks to an Ella Burkhart score in the 53rd minute. Junior Maggie Rankin was credited with an assist on the play. Major did the rest in goal, facing nine shots and making a trio of saves en route to the shutout.
Against J&W on Sunday, the Bishops out-shot the Wildcats 9-4 in the opening half but could not tally a score. The second half, however, saw Wesleyan erupt for four goals, beginning with a Sarah Cook blast off a deflection in the 53rd minute. Less than two minutes later, Mazza chipped the J&W defense for an assist on a Cydney Nichols score. Ridgeway later notched her first score of the season at the 71:19 mark off a Anna Stribling through ball, and junior Lauren Seegel completed the scoring with a volley and one-timer with three minutes to go.
Wesleyan out-shot J&W 25-8 on the day, with Major again making three stops in net. Wildcat keeper Kylie Priddy kept her team in the match with 11 saves on the day.
The Bishops have now won three straight matches and four of their last five entering this week's 2017 USA South Conference Tournament. As the East Division's #6 seed, Wesleyan will travel to #3 seed Greensboro College on Wednesday for a 1:00pm opening round match. The Pride barely escaped with a 2-1 win in the two teams' regular season meeting.