NCWC's Hester and McCloud give Biancur first coaching victory

Rocky Mount, NC - Sophomore Meredith Hester and junior Reva McCloud each tallied two goals and an assist on Saturday afternoon, securing first-year head coach Beverly Biancur's first win at the helm of the North Carolina Wesleyan women's soccer program.  The 4-0 shutout came against visiting Sweet Briar College in the Bishops' 2007 season opener.  Hester (pictured) scored what proved to be the eventual game-winner in the sixth minute on a pass from McCloud.

McCloud notched a score of her own  at 22:56 when Hester returned the favor with a beautiful pass up the middle that split two Vixen defenders.

The Bishops pushed their lead to 3-0 less than two minutes before the break when junior Rachel Rosenbarker lobbed a pass over the SBC defense that McCloud promptly deposited into the back of the net.

Sweet Briar upped its defensive intensity in the second half and allowed just one Bishop goal.  The score came in the 75th minute and was the second of the day for Hester.  Senior Mayra Gomez sent a long pass from the left side to the top of the box, which Hester controlled to beat Vixen goalkeeper Kristen Johnson.

Johnson finished the game with an impressive eight saves but suffered the loss in goal.  Junior keeper Bryanne Godfrey earned the win for Wesleyan, recording three saves en route to the shutout.

On the day, NCWC out-shot SBC 20-5 and earned four corner kicks to the Vixens' one.

Wesleyan opens its '07 road slate on Friday at Bryn Mawr College.  Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.