DECATUR, Ga. - Agnes Scott soccer welcomed the Spirits of Salem College to Gellerstedt Field on Friday night, with the visitors racing to a first-half lead and holding on for a 4-2 victory over the Scotties (0-2). The longtime conference rivals in both the Great South Athletic Conference and USA South played their match in intermittent rain, but it did nothing to dampen the offense of both teams.

The Spirits started off the scoring early, as leading scorer Darilyn Nieto led off the Spirits (1-1) with a goal just 6:41 into the first half. Just two minutes later, however, Agnes Scott responded with a goal of their own, as Piper Martinsen scored off of a perfect corner kick assist from Iris Ray, leveling the match at a goal apiece. Scottie goalkeeper Olivia Rosario, complete with her own rowdy cheering section in the stands, managed to keep the Spirits attack at bay for the next 25 minutes with several key saves. However, Nieto stuck again in the 33rd minute as she found teammates Giselle Ramos open and assisted on the Spirits' second goal. Nieto would tack on another goal of her own at the close of the half to give the Spirits the 3-1 halftime lead.

In the second half, Salem once again opened up the scoring early, as Nieto found Alexia Valente-Arreola open to give the Spirits their final goal of the contest. Approaching the 70th minute of play, Tatiana Cope took a long pass and made her way through the defense on a counter-attack for the Scotties, launching a solo shot pas the goalkeeper for her first collegiate goal. The Scotties almost got within one goal just 20 seconds later as Iris Ray penetrated the Spirit defense and launched a long shot outside the box which was narrowly saved by Spirit goalie Marissa Doutrich.

Rosario finished with 13 saves on the evening, and Ashlee Parkey had the other shot-on-goal for the Scotties. The Scotties will return to the comfort of their home field on Sunday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m. as they face off with local foe, Oglethorpe University.