MURFRESBORO – Head women’s soccer coach Stuart Horne has been coaching at Chowan College for 5 years now.

Before Friday’s 2-0 victory he was winless against rival Methodist College.

After first half play it looked like it might be more of the same.

&uot;I was not pleased at all with our first half play,&uot; said Horne.

&uot;We were playing longball, we came in too anxious and just needed to settle down.

&uot;We had a bunch of bad touches and were lucky that when we did mess up our defense came through and kept us in it,&uot; added the coach.

Both teams went into the break scoreless and coach Horne used the opportunity to challenge his players.

&uot;I was brutal in my assessment of their play and asked them what we needed to fix,&uot; said Horne.

&uot;They knew what we were doing wrong so I asked them how we were going to fix it. I can tell them and tell them but they are the ones that have to do it, I told them it’s all up to you.&uot;

The players responded in the second half scoring two quick goals, both setup by Melissa Rodgers.

Rodgers, a freshman from Alexandria, Virginia setup the first when after the Braves attacked goal and lost possession she won it back.

The right back found a roaming Amanda Cothern.

Cothern or &uot;Ohio&uot; as her teammates call her sent a beautiful chip shot in over the outstretched arms of the Monarch goalkeeper.

As impressive as the first goal may have been the second was the one that had people talking about it over the homecoming weekend.

Rodgers once again won the ball and crossed midfield.

Just past the halfline she sent a booming kick towards goal.

That’s when Meredith Krause, a freshman forward from Stafford, Virginia got air and went for the header.

She headed the ball perfectly redirecting it into the side of the net for the 2-0 lead and final score of the day.

Although not happy with how the game began, coach Horne was pleased with how his team responded in the second half.

&uot;We played with purpose,&uot; he said. &uot;We moved well and played the style that we have been practicing all year.&uot;

The Braves will host Shenandoah University on Friday October 8 at 4 p.m.