DEMOREST, Ga.—Senior Zoey Perchaluk (Fort Erie, Ont.) scored her first two goals of the season in timely fashion to help Agnes Scott Soccer register its first win of the 2018 season, 3-2 over Emory & Henry. The Scotties scored the three middle goals of the contest and held off the rally-minded Wasps at the very end to kick off the Piedmont Classic.
Agnes Scott improves to 1-2-1 this season with hopes of making it a perfect weekend when they head back to Demorest to take on USA South East Division foe Averett. Emory & Henry (0-3-1) will play host Piedmont.
The Scotties displayed the same possession they played with over the final 60 minutes in a 3-1 loss to Birmingham Southern on Wednesday. Whatever woke up the Scottie offense after a slow start in their home opener has stayed with the team as it heads into the meat of its schedule.
Agnes Scott held a firm advantage in possession from the get-go, but it was Emory & Henry who found the back of the net first. Gillian Hogg (Richmond, Va.) finished off a Kelci Horner (Salem, Va.) pass in the 22nd minute to give the Wasps a 1-0 lead.
That deficit would not last long for the Scotties as their senior forward Perchaluk was able to beat her mark to the inside and knock a ball over the keeper for the equalizer. Aina Stratton (Brevard, N.C.) assisted on the play from her spot at outside back.
Each team had a handful of chances to change the score in their favor before the halftime bell, but it remained 1-1 after 45 minutes. Agnes Scott held a 7-3 advantage in shots on frame.
Perchaluk gave the Scotties their first lead of the season in the 50th minute with first-year Skye Svehlak (Huntsville, Ala.) connecting on the play. Each player had been involved in all four Scottie goals to that point in the season. Svehlak scored goals in losses to Randolph and Birmingham Southern with Perchaluk assisting on both of them.
An Emory & Henry penalty in the box in the 62nd minute all but clinched momentum fully in Agnes Scott's favor. Senior midfielder Caitlynn Croft (LaGrange, Ga.) obliged with a finish from the penalty spot.
Things got interesting in the end as the Wasps amped up the pressure on their offensive end. That focus led to another goal off a corner kick in the 87th minute. Hogg launched the corner into the box, which met the foot of Eve Hart (Asheville, N.C.) to make it a 3-2 game.
The Scotties were able to run the final three minutes off the clock by keeping possession in their offensive third.
Perchaluk is now just one goal away from the 20-goal mark for her career. She led the team with four shots, all on goal.
First-year keeper Alyssa Bayus (Phoenix, Ariz.) earned the victory in her first career start, making three saves and only allowing two goals. Emory & Henry's Kaela Schlevensky (Haymarket, Va.) was forced into 13 saves in the loss.