CLINTON, S.C.   – Behind a penalty kick goal from Steven Cordova and a strong total team defensive effort, the Presbyterian Blue Hose (1-0-1) blanked the Mount Olive Trojans, 1-0, in their home opener at Martin Stadium on Sunday night.
 
THOUGHTS FROM COACH FINOTTI
"Mount Olive is a good team. They drew with Longwood on the road, 1-1, this past Thursday. Credit to Mount Olive, I thought we played very well. We made some positive strides from the preseason and the St. Thomas game. We had control of the game, which was noticeable; we created quite a few chances, and we kind of grew in the game to become more dangerous as the game went on. We were very dangerous the last 20 minutes of the first half, and we created some really good chances in the second half, opening them up."

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the 28^th minute, Presbyterian's Iragi Kalala was fouled in the box, leading to a penalty kick. Cordova converted on the penalty kick for Presbyterian's first goal of the 2025 season.
 
NOTABLES

• Presbyterian finished the game with a 19-1 advantage in shots and an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
• Adrian Buri and Braden Gritz paced the Blue Hose with three shots apiece. Buri nearly doubled Presbyterian's lead when his shot banged off the post early in the second half. Cordova, Kalala, Javien Rambert, and Alessandro Libertucci recorded two shots apiece.
• Presbyterian goalkeeper Tim Baerwalde anchored a Blue Hose defense that limited Mount Olive to one shot, which came in the 52^nd minute, while posting their second straight shutout.
• With the win, the Blue Hose have now won four straight home openers while improving their record to 10-8-1 in home openers in the Division I era.

 
UP NEXT
Presbyterian travels to Florida to play Stetson this Thursday, August 28, at 7 p.m.