WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Carolina University Women's Soccer entered Wednesday night searching for its first victory of the 2026 season, and the Bruins delivered in challenging conditions, earning a 1-0 shutout victory over Bluefield State University on September 23 at Truist Sports Park.
Playing through cold and rain-soaked conditions, Carolina controlled much of the match and consistently applied pressure to the Bluefield State defense. The Bruins finished with a commanding 20-4 advantage in shots, including a 6-2 edge in shots on goal, while also generating eight corner kicks compared to just one for the Big Blue.
Despite Carolina creating several opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, the teams went into halftime scoreless. The Bruins recorded nine first-half shots and six corner kicks, with Ashley Sanchez coming inches away from breaking through when her attempt struck the post in the 34th minute.
Carolina finally found the breakthrough early in the second half. In the 50th minute, Ashley Sanchez helped create the decisive opportunity, finding Kelsey Brown, who scored her first goal of the season to put the Bruins ahead 1-0.
The Bruins continued to threaten after taking the lead. Brown hit the crossbar in the 55th minute before Sanchez struck the crossbar herself just minutes later. Carolina also had an opportunity to double its advantage on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute, but Bluefield State goalkeeper Natasha Jaramillo made the save.
On the other end, Waleska Gonzalez and the Carolina defense protected the advantage. Gonzalez played all 90 minutes in goal, making two saves to secure the clean sheet as Carolina limited Bluefield State to only four total shots.
The victory moved Carolina to 1-2-3 on the season and gave the Bruins their first win of the 2026 campaign.
Head Coach Boo Tesh: "I'm really proud of the way our team competed tonight. The conditions weren't easy, but our players stayed focused and continued to battle for 90 minutes. We've been working hard to get that first win, and it was great to see Kelsey finish the opportunity and our defense earn the shutout. Hopefully, this is something we can build on as we move forward."
Carolina University will have a quick turnaround as the Bruins return to action Friday, September 25, traveling to take on Shaw University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
