Methodist's Gizelle Garcia scored the only goal of the match in the 66th minute to lift the second-seeded Monarchs to a 1-0 victory over the seventh-seeded Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels in the first round of the 2024 USA South playoffs Saturday in Fayetteville, N.C.

Garcia's shot from 25 yards out slid under the arms of diving MBU goalie Maddy Vinson to give the Monarchs their second 1-0 victory over MBU this season.  Methodist (9-7-0) advances to the conference semifinals Wednesday (11/6) against the winner of Saturday night's N.C. Wesleyan at Greensboro quarterfinal round match.  

MBU, which was outshot by a 17-6 margin (9-3 in shots on goal), was making their fourth-straight appearance in the USA South playoffs and end the season with a 3-12-2 overall record.  Vinson was credited with eight saves for the Fighting Squirrels.