LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- The No. 2 West seeded Covenant men's soccer team received two goals first half goals from Mercer Stout to defeat No. 3 East seed Greensboro, 3-1, in the first round of the USA South Tournament on Saturday at Shadowlands Field.

The win extends the Covenant (10-3-3) unbeaten streak to 12, having not lost a match since Sept. 7. The 12-match streak is the longest for the program since 2002 (13 straight).

The Scots advance to the USA South Tournament semifinals and will play No. 1 East seed William Peace in Cary, N.C., on Friday, Nov. 5.  The Scots were the only West Division team to advance past the first round.

Covenant struck first and early, as Stout scored his first goal of the match in the sixth minute of play, quickly putting his team up 1-0. The score was assisted by Keegan Weekley.

Greensboro answered, though, in the 34th minute when Darli Mihindou was able to get a header past Covenant keeper Henry Hooks from inside the box to tie it up at one goal apiece. Mihindou's strike was assisted by William Curry.

Not to be outdone, Stout would respond with a goal of his own just three minutes later, assisted by Parker Rody. Stout's attempt deflected off a Greensboro defender and found the back of the net. The score marked Stout's eighth of the season and gave the Scots a 2-1 lead over the Pride at the half.

Covenant dominated the offensive side in the second period, outshooting Greensboro 10-3. The Scots' third goal would come off the foot of Parker Owen thanks to a penalty kick in the 57th minute of play. 

From there, the Covenant defense kept the pressure up, forbidding the visiting Pride to notch another goal, thereby sealing their 3-1 tournament win.

Overall, the Scots outshot Greensboro 20-8 for the match. Stout finished the contest with six shots and two goals. Owen recorded three shots and one goal. Austin Berry tallied four shots, and Weekley and Rody each added one assist.

Hooks played the entirety of the match and earned two saves.

Jordy Briceno led the Pride with six shots. Curry and Mihindou each had one shot. Christian Del Cid Portillo played all 90 minutes in the goal for Greensboro and recorded six saves.

UP NEXT

The Scots will travel to face William Peace for the USA South semifinals on Friday, Nov. 5. Match time will be announced later.

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