Playing its third match in four days, the Covenant men's soccer team showed no signs of slowing down as the Scots collected a third straight shutout with a 4-0 victory over Pfeiffer on Saturday afternoon in USA South action at Scotland Yard.
Covenant remains unbeaten on the year at 6-0-1 overall and 3-0 inside the USA South. The Scots continue the best start in a season for the program since the 2004 season.
The Scots entered the match as the USA South leader in goals and second in goals against average as a team, and both of those aspects were on display on Saturday.
The shutout was the third straight, all coming this week, while it marked the second time this year that the Scots have scored four or more goals in a contest.
Mercer Stout scored his conference-leading seventh goal of the season that gave Covenant the lead for good in the 13th minute of play. Stout collected a deflection off a Pfeiffer defender and scored from just inside the box for his fourth eventual game-winning goal of the season.
Covenant added to its lead less than a minute later. Josh Brower was fouled inside the box leading to a penalty kick chance for Jesse Riggs. Riggs converted on the opportunity for his second goal of the season to put the Scots ahead 2-0 in the 14th minute.
The teams combined for only seven shots through the first 45 minutes, but Covenant held a 2-0 lead into the break.
Brower would get on the board in the 54th minute and put the Scots into a commanding 3-0 lead. The senior played the ball into the box and then found space towards the top before getting his shot past Pfeiffer keeper David Chavarria for the goal, his fifth of the season.
Covenant added an insurance goal in the 79th minute when Austin Berry collected a ricochet from his initial shot attempt and then buried the second chance from outside the box for a 4-0 lead. The goal was Berry's second of the season.
Paul Lemay recorded two saves to collect his third shutout of the year. The Covenant back line of Noah Lee, Matt Morefield, Blake Thomas, and Jay Patterson were strong once again as Pfeiffer had very few opportunities in its attacking half. Chavarria made one save in the loss for the visiting Falcons.
Covenant outshot Pfeiffer (1-6, 0-4 USA South), 11-6, on the afternoon. Brower led the Scots with three shots, while Berry had two.
Covenant hosts N.C. Wesleyan for a key USA South match on Friday, Sept. 27. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Scotland Yard.