HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals welcomed Greensboro to the turf field for a rare Monday matchup.

After leading 8-5 after one, the Royals defense clamped down, not allowing anymore Greensboro goals, while scoring 12 more themselves, en route to a 20-5 win.

Records: EMU 2-7 | Greensboro 0-5, 0-3 USA South

Highlights

• After the Pride won the opening draw, they took it down the field and leading goal scorer, Rosanna Espinosa-Ponce, put one past Cristal Narciso, for a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, EMU answered when Amber Bonds' free position shot beat the Pride keeper, tying things at one.
• The teams would trade goals over the next couple minutes, with Espinosa-Ponce scoring one before Grace Hughes scored her first goal of the game, once again tying the game. Alex Palizzi gave EMU a 3-2 lead at the 10:46 mark, taking a pass from Hughes and finding the back of the net.
• Cindy Argueta-Rivas added the fourth Royals goal on a free position shot and just a minute later, Hughes scored her second goal of the quarter and put EMU ahead 5-2. Espinosa-Ponce added back-to-back goals after winning back-to-back draw controls, to pull Greensboro within one. With 5:34 left, Courtney Crawford scored, making the score 6-4, after Argueta-Rivas won the draw control to start the Royals offense. Narciso came up with a big save on a Greensboro free position shot, to keep EMU ahead by two. Argueta-Rivas and Palizzi would add two more goals in the final 2:16, giving EMU an 8-5 lead after one.
• It was all EMU in the second quarter as they outscored Greensboro 6-0. Palizzi would score back-to-back goals, one unassisted and one with an assist from Hughes, to put EMU ahead 10-5. Bonds and Hughes would join in the scoring fun to push the Royals lead to seven before Crawford added two more to send EMU to the half ahead 14-5.
• Aaliyah Lawhorne added two goals in the third quarter to push EMU's lead to double digits while Narciso saved the lone shot that came her way in the third as the Royals defense was on lockdown.
• Four different Royals scored in the fourth quarter to finish out the day for EMU. Taylor Parker's free position goal started the quarter before Palizzi added her fifth goal to put EMU ahead 18-5. Arianna Nixon scored with 2:23 left before Shayleigh Sims put the finishing touches with her first goal of the season. In total, nine different Royals scored on the day.

Statistical Leaders

Palizzi: 5 goals, 3 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers

Crawford: 3 goals, 6 draw controls

Hughes: 3 goals, 2 assists, 2 draw controls

What's Next

EMU will wrap up their 2023 road slate on Thursday when they head to Sweet Briar. They'll take on the Vixens starting at 6 pm.

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