Pfeiffer Wins USA South East Division Title With 1-0 Win Over Greensboro

Misenheimer, N.C. (Oct. 23 2019) –  The Pfeiffer University women's soccer team won the USA South East Division Title after a 1-0 win over Greensboro on Wednesday night at Lefko Field.

The Falcons and The Pride, the top two teams in the division, played most of the early stages of the match in the midfield, with neither team managing any significant scoring chances.

As first half play wore on, Pfeiffer began to push deeper into the Greensboro zone, with sophomore Mackenzie Pruitt (Havelock, N.C.) and junior Cayci Eaton (Harrisburg, N.C.) each logging shots.

Junior Meredith Manson (Auburndale, Fla.) provided the title-clinching goal at the 21:35 mark when she received an outlet pass from fellow defender Morgan Cecil (St. Cloud, Fla.) and drilled a shot that beat Greensboro goalkeeper Kelsey Emrich high, providing the 1-0 lead that would hold throughout.  The goal was Manson's fifth of the season.

In the second half, Greensboro logged six shots, but Falcon goalkeeper Kaley Hyatt (St. Cloud, Fla.) kept The Pride off the board in earning the shutout win, which ignited a celebration at midfield.

"I'm so proud of these young ladies," said first-year head coach Sean Esterhuizen. "They come to practice every day with great attitudes, a willingness to get better and tonight they played like champions.  I'm thrilled that they got to experience this milestone for the program and for our school."

The milestone achieved with the win marks the first team divisional championship since Pfeiffer joined the USA South and the first women's soccer championship since Pfeiffer won the Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship in 2013.