CLINTON, S.C. – A mid-match downpour didn't deter the Presbyterian College women's soccer offense on Sunday night against South Carolina State, securing its highest goal count in a single match since 2018 in a 4-1 runaway.

Taking less than three minutes to tack on a "1" onto the scoreboard, redshirt-sophomore Lina-Marie Müller landed two goals in the blowout, PC's first multi-goal performance since Sloan Spees against Gardner-Webb last fall.

Speaking of Spees, she added to the avalanche by tallying three points on the night (one goal, one assist). Presby dominated the offensive end of the field, reaching 28 total shots and 14 which landed on-target.

In the 69^th minute, senior Gwen Keiser offered up a déjà vu moment when she soared a free kick into the back of the net, a nearly-identical play to a game-winning blow 10 days ago that helped the Blue Hose defeat Furman.

Head coach Matt Smith's squad will hit the road this Thursday and go head-to-head with The Citadel, an entertaining mix on paper between two Carolina programs who have combined for eight wins already this year.

 
FINAL SCORE: Presbyterian, 4 – South Carolina State, 1
RECORDS: Presbyterian (4-1) – South Carolina State, (0-6)
LOCATION: Edens Field at Martin Stadium (Clinton, S.C.)



 
COACH SMITH'S SENTIMENTS
 
"This was a great result for us tonight and fully deserved. I love how this team steps up in times of adversity, scoring three second-half goals after being tied up at the break. They came out with tons of energy in the second half and showed the type of team that we want to be."

"What's most exciting is that we are not yet the finished product of our grand vision. We are still getting better and better, which is a testament to how much our players want to work and win."

 
FIRST TIME SINCE…
 
- It's been five years since Presbyterian last put up at least four goals in a sole meeting (a 5-1 W over Hampton in October 2018). That particular season saw the Blue Hose score at least three goals on six dates, producing four goals or higher on three occasions.

- Also in 2018, PC started off the slate with a 4-1 mark. That record had not since been equaled by the blue and garnet until Thursday night's shellacking.

- By besting Furman, Southern Wesleyan, and S.C. State consecutively, the Scotsmen have achieved their first three-match winning streak since the 2019 campaign. Coach Smith's crew needs two more triumphs to tie the Division I-era school record for most wins in a row.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
- Delayed by 73 minutes due to lightning in the area, PC showcased their eagerness with a Müller score which needed only 139 seconds to materialize.

- Things were going smoothly for the Blue Hose until the 36:25 stamp when a freakish pinball incident brought the Bulldogs to a tie game, their first goal of 2024.

- S.C. State couldn't keep the pressure on, however, as Spees allowed PC to retake the advantage only three minutes and 42 seconds into the second period.

- After Spees scooped up her first connection of the year, it took Müller only 23 seconds to beef up the lead to 3-1, the sixth score of the German's college career.

- With the Bulldogs now playing catch-up, Presbyterian completed the second-half hat trick on Keiser's longshot, moving PC to 6-1 all-time against their Orangeburg enemies.

- PC stacked up four goals against S.C. State for the second time, also hitting that number against them in 2018. Eleven different players saw at least one shot attempt to hammer home Presby's offensive aggressiveness.

- Senior keeper Kelly Hall gathered five saves on the night, while coach Smith's club was delighted to see the return of Lindsey Malyszek who missed the prior two bouts due to injury.

- Presbyterian held S.C. State to zeroes on the score count in the 54 minutes after their lone hit, with PC's defense giving up just two goals in the last 216 minutes dating back to the Furman win.

 
UP NEXT
 
- With Thursday's match in the bin, PC has now tied Radford for the best non-conference record in the Big South by winning four of their first five encounters. They'll put that stout resume to the test in four days when visiting The Citadel, who has the same number of W's to their credit.

- Each of the last three duels between PC and their Charleston foes have tilted to the Bulldogs, although the Scotsmen still have a 5-4 edge in the overall series differential.

- In all of The Citadel's victories to this point, they've held the other side to either one goal or a pure shutout. They've yet to taste an outright loss – tying Gardner-Webb last week – as they decimated NCCAA school Toccoa Falls 9-0 in their most recent showing.

- First touch in Charleston is scheduled for 4:00 PM.