BREVARD, N.C. - Linfield earned its first victory of the season in commanding fashion, defeating Brevard College 17-2 on Sunday afternoon at Ives-Lemel Family Field. The Wildcats showcased a balanced offensive attack and a stifling defense, overwhelming the Tornados from start to finish.
Linfield set the tone early, scoring seven goals in the first quarter alone.
Madison De La Trinidad opened the scoring just 34 seconds into the game, assisted by
Maizri Chandler, and the Wildcats never looked back.
Mackenzie Kulick was impressive for the Wildcats, netting five goals on nine shots while De La Trinidad finished the game with three goals and one assist. To go along with her assist on the opening goal, Chandler also found the back of the goal three times.
Gabby Crist also had a standout performance, contributing two goals and two assists before being issued a red card late in the first quarter.
The Wildcats' offense was relentless, outshooting Brevard 38-3 and maintaining possession for the majority of the game.
Savannah Irwin was a key playmaker, dishing out three assists and adding a goal of her own.
Maya Wright also made significant contributions with one goal and two assists, while
Evelyn Cross chipped in two goals.
Linfield's defense was equally impressive, holding Brevard to just two goals and forcing 24 turnovers. Goalkeeper
Tenley Hodge made one save in the win, while the Wildcats' defensive unit, led by
Elizabeth Long and
Grayce Miller, consistently disrupted Brevard's offensive rhythm. Long recorded five ground balls and two caused turnovers, while Miller added three ground balls and one caused turnover.
Brevard's lone goals came from Madi Norris and Emily Denaga, but the Tornados struggled to generate consistent offense against Linfield's aggressive defense. Kyla Smith-Fondall made 12 saves in goal for Brevard, but it wasn't enough to slow down the Wildcats' offensive onslaught.
Linfield's victory marks a strong rebound after a season-opening loss, and the team will look to build on this momentum as the season progresses.
NEXT
Linfield makes the journey home after a North Carolina road trip to start the season. The Wildcats play Pacific in McMinnville on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a non-conference matchup.
