LEXINGTON, Va. --- The Chattanooga women's soccer team came away with a 1-0 victory Friday afternoon at VMI in Lexington, Va., and move to sole possession of first place in the Southern Conference standings after three matches.
 
Chattanooga improves to 5-3-2 overall and 3-0 against the SoCon. VMI drops to 1-9-2 on the year and 0-2 in league action.
                                                          
"Great win," Mocs head coach Gavin McKinney said. "VMI made things difficult so we are happy to be moving on with three points."
 
Chattanooga's goal came in the 22^nd minute from Clarissa Salinas, her third of the season. Caroline Richvalsky carried the ball down the field with Salinas to her left. She passed to the Garland, Texas freshman inside the 18-yard box. Salinas gathered it up and found the back of the net from the right side of the box for the score.
 
"We played good football for the goal," McKinney said. "Although we did not find a second one, we created some very good chances.
 
"Out of possession we looked stable. Delighted to keep the clean sheet."
 
The advantage went to the Mocs who outshot the Keydets 18-1 with seven shots on goal. Mackenzie Smith and Kennedy Heavrin had four shots apiece for Chattanooga and Birna Johannsdottir had three.
 
Keeper Caroline Ekern earned her second clean sheet in SoCon action and improved to 5-1-2 on the year. VMI's keeper Jillian Hall was busy with six saves in 90 minutes in goal.
 
A Chattanooga opportunity late in the match was thwarted by the post. Johannsdottir delivered a ball into the box and JaNiya Stevens, looking for her second goal in as many games, hit into the post, keeping the Mocs to a one goal lead.
 
The Mocs will remain on the road to take on UNCG Sunday afternoon in conference action at 2:00 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
1            UTC       21:37    Clarissa Salinas (3)          Caroline Richvalsky
 
NOTES
- This marks the first time since 2004 that the Mocs have started the SoCon season with three straight wins. UTC was 4-0 to start the 2004 season.
- 18 shots is a season-high for Chattanooga.
- Third shutout for UTC and Caroline Ekern this season.