Mary Baldwin defeated N.C. Wesleyan, 3-1, Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the USA South Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament. The Squirrels were playing in the conference tournament for the second time in program history and the second time at home, continuing the success from a year ago.

MBU scored its first goal in the 13th minute after junior Quierra Hawkins dribbled up the field and past the defenders before sending in her fourth goal of the season to give the Squirrels a 1-0 lead

N.C Wesleyan answered back with a penalty kick in the 14th minute to tie the score. The half ended with the teams deadlocked 1-1.

The Squirrels came out hot in the  second half and scored in the 63rd minute on a long goal by Sara Gruntowicz, her fifth of the season, off an excellent pass by freshman Ashlyn Rosati, her first assist of the season, giving MBU a 2-1 lead.

Mary Baldwin kept up the pressure on offense and Hawkins scored her second goal of the game and her fifth of the season off a long punt by senior keeper Anyka Wilkin that went over the defender's head, giving Hawkins the opportunity to drive and find the back of the net in the final minute of the contest to close the game for the Squirrels, 3-1.

MBU goalie Wilkin earned her first assist of the season as well as recording six saves to stop the Bishop's offense.

Mary Baldwin, now with a 13-6-1 record this season, finished Tuesday's contest with a 19-15 advantage in total shots and a slim 3-1 edge in corner kicks. The Squirrels put 11 of their 19 shots on goal.

MBU advances to the semifinal round on Thursday and will travel to play Southern Virginia. SVU advanced Tuesday on penalty kicks, 4-3, over Brevard after the contest was scoreless for the duration of regularion plus two overtime periods. Southern Virginia, 11-6-1 on the season, defeated Mary Baldwin 2-1 during the regular season.