Missouri State 2, College of Charleston 0

SPRINGFIELD, MO - Missouri State used a goal in the first half and one in the second to secure the 2-0 win over the College of Charleston women’s soccer team.

The Bears improve to 4-2-2 on the year, while the Cougars fall to 1-5-0.

Missouri State’s Kate Blair opened the scoring just 6:08 into the game with her third goal of the year. Allison Osmundson and Caroline Rooker added the assists in the play. At 62:43 the Bears struck again, this time from Chelsea Anderson, who led the team in shots with five.

Missouri State out-shot the College of Charleston 20-3 overall but it was the Cougars who led in the second half 5-3. Charleston’s Erin Smith had seven saves, to Missouri State’s four. Teryn Schuetz and Colleen Hoban paced the Cougars with two shots apiece.

CULOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina senior Casey Davis netted the only goal of the match early in the first half as Western Carolina shut out the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, 1-0, in the Select Kickoff Classic held in Greenville, S.C. The Catamounts won both matches for the weekend after shutting out Eastern Kentucky on Friday afternoon to earn a share of the Select Kickoff Classic Championship with the host Furman Paladins, who were also perfect on the weekend.

The Catamounts (7-1-0) opened the scoring at the 2:34 mark as Davis knocked home a 13-yard shot over the outstretched arms of Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Corinne Razem. Assisting on the tally was sophomore Lauren Atkinson, who earned her second-consecutive starting nod in place of senior Natalie Turgeon, who was injured in the win over UNC Asheville. Turgeon did see action, however, versus GWU on Sunday after missing Friday's date with the Colonels.

For Davis, the score was her team-leading fourth of the season, which gave her a team-high 10 points through the first eight games. The Marietta, Ga., native entered the season with five career goals and a total of 11 points over her first three years as a Catamount, but has nearly doubled that output in helping Western to its best start in the program's history.

In search of a second-half insurance goal, the Catamounts twice hit the post and were unable to find the back of the net resulting in the one-goal victory, Western's third-consecutive over Gardner-Webb (2-4-0).

Catamount goalkeeper, junior Alesha Row recorded her fifth shutout of the season, surpassing her career total of four and moving into second on the WCU all-time career shutout list. Row passed former teammate Tina Weaver, and now stands just nine scoreless outings behind Western's all-time leader, Mandi Tinsley, on the all-time list. Row is also just one shutout shy of tying WCU's single-season record for shutouts, currently standing at six held by Tinsley in the 2001 season.

A big reason for Row's success has been the stellar play of the Catamount defense, which limited Gardner-Webb to two shots for the match, both coming in the first half of play. Anchoring the Catamount's defense are seniors Emily Pierce and Marie Nicolini, as well as underclassmen, sophomore Melissa Berry and Arlan Whittle.

Davidson 2, #25 Colorado College 2, 2OT

DAVIDSON, N.C. ? After 110 minutes of exciting women’s soccer Sunday afternoon at Davidson’s Alumni Stadium, neither the host Wildcats (3-4-1) nor the #25 Colorado College Tigers (5-2-1) could find its third goal of the day to avoid the ultimate 2-2 double-overtime tie.

With just 3:40 gone from the game clock, Davidson struck first with a Koehrn-to-Koehrn goal to give the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. On the play, senior Kara Koehrn dribbled around a defender and sent the ball into the near post where she found sister Kristen, who one-touched it in for the game’s first goal. The Koehrns now lead Wildcat scorers with three goals each on the season.

Colorado College responded midway through the first period, scoring two quick goals within about three minutes of each other. First, Tiger sophomore Jessica Beinlich crossed in a corner kick, which was deflected in from just outside the goal and off Wildcat keeper Bevin English. In short order, the CC own goal was followed up with a direct shot by Tiger sophomore Lisa Balsama around a Wildcat defender from 18 yards out, giving CC a 2-1 advantage that remained through the rest of the first half.

After the break, Davidson surged in its shot count, trying 10 times to the Tigers’ five, but the scoreboard read 2-1 until the 82nd minute. Inside nine minutes to play in the second period, Wildcat freshman Mel Smith took a free kick from 30 yards out, which soared in over the head of CC goalkeeper Geneva Sills for a much-needed second goal. Regulation ended with the score knotted at 2-all.

The Wildcats dominated the attack in both 10-minute overtime periods, out-shooting the Tigers, 4-1, but could not connect for the elusive game-winning goal.

“Colorado College is a very organized, well-coached team,” Davidson head coach Greg Ashton said after the match. “They’re committed to their formation, and they did that well. We scored early and then really fought hard to get back in the game. It wasn’t pretty, but the only thing we didn’t do is score another goal at the end.”

Overall, the Wildcats won the shot contest, 18-10, even though the two teams were tied at four shots apiece after the first half. Sills recorded eight saves in goal for the Tigers while English notched three for the ’Cats.

UNCW 1, Elon 0

ELON, N.C. - UNC Wilmington’s Liz Chriss collected a cross from Kelly Renkin and found the back of the net 57 seconds into overtime to lift the Seahawks to a 1-0 non-conference women’s soccer victory over the Elon Phoenix at Rudd Field on Sunday afternoon. The victory lifted UNCW to 4-3-0 on the year, while Elon dropped to 2-3-2.

The Seahawks took nine first half shots, including six shots on goal, but were unable to manage any first half scores. Elon was held with out a shot on goal in the first stanza.

The reverse was true in the second period as Elon took nine shots, two on goal, while UNCW did not muster a shot on goal in the half.

UNCW’s Rachael Wilson collected two saves in her 90:57 of work. Lizz Johnson made six saves and allowed one goal in the same amount of time in net.

The two teams total shots were nearly identical, as the Seahawks claimed a 13-12 edge there. UNCW earned eight corner kicks to five for the Phoenix.

Clemson 1, Wofford 0

SPARTANBURG, SC - On a hot and humid Sunday afternoon, a lone goal in the first half was the only tally on the scoreboard as the Clemson Lady Tigers handed host Wofford a 1-0 loss at Snyder Field in Spartanburg, S.C. Today's meeting was the first between the two schools in Spartanburg. The other three games were at Historic Riggs Field in Clemson.

Despite the heat, the two teams played even for the majority of the contest. Clemson (5-2-1) finished with a 16-9 edge on shots; however, during the final 45 minutes, the Terriers were only out-shot, 7-6.

The Lady Tigers' Allison Graham scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season on a Lydia Vandenbergh assist at 27:25. Graham is a three-time All-ACC honoree.

Midway through the first half, a collision near the Wofford (1-6) goal left junior goalkeeper Austin Somers slighty injured. She remained in the game until the 73:16 mark when another impact knocked her out of the game. Classmate Bernie Sikes, who had played 24:02 previously in goal, filled in the remaining 16:44 after playing on the field during the rest of the contest.

Somers registered four saves before exiting the game. Sikes also tallied four stops in her short time in the cage.

Clemson goalkeeper Ashley Phillips turned away six Terrier shots for the shutout.

The Lady Tigers had a breakaway chance to score when Jenny Smith beat the Wofford defense with 63:54 on the clock. Freshman defender Mary Rea cleared a shot attempt away inside the six-yard box to maintain the slim one-goal margin.

Furman 3, Eastern Kentucky 1

GREENVILLE, SC - Andrea Morrison scored two goals, and Furman tallied three unanswered goals as the Lady Paladins defeated Eastern Kentucky 3-1 at the Select Kickoff Classic. Furman finished the weekend with two wins and a first-place finish in the four-team tournament.

Furman had the first scoring opportunity in the 3rd minute as Emily Krankowski had a shot from 20 yards that was saved by Eastern Kentucky's goalkeeper Christina Graul.

Krankowski had another shot on goal in the 7th minute as she received a square pass from Andrea Morrison at the penalty spot. Krankowski's first-touch shot forced Graul into a sliding save.

Eastern Kentucky opened the scoring at the 10:26 mark as Sarah Caldon netted her first goal of the season. Caldon dribbled through the defense and knocked a looping 20 yard shot over the outstretched arms of Furman goalkeeper Andie Hinshaw.

A 25 yard Katherine Kelley blast forced a diving save by Graul in the 14th minute.

The Lady Paladins nearly scored on a set piece in the 18th minute. Tara Marker's corner kick was headed by Erin Sanders, but the attempt at goal was just high of the crossbar.

Furman continued to attack the Colonel goal in the 21st minute as Morrison dribbled through the Eastern Kentucky defense and played a through ball to Katie Tucker inside the penalty area. Tucker ran onto the ball and struck a first-time shot to the near post, but Graul was equal to the challenge as her diving save pushed the ball across the endline.

Furman evened the score at the 29:19 mark on Kaylan Pedine's first goal of the season. Maggie Welder got behind the defense and had a shot on goal that was saved by Graul. The rebound bounced to the far post, and Pedine touched it across the line.

The Lady Paladins took the lead in the final minute of the first half on a goal by Morrison. Midfielder Katherine Kelley dispossessed a Colonel defender at midfield and carried the ball deep into the Eastern Kentucky penalty box. Her cross was one-timed by freshman Rachel Fry but the Colonel goalie deflected her attempt. Morrison collected the rebound and knocked it in for a 2-1 lead.

Furman's first opportunity of the second half came in the 50th minute. Anna Betton received the ball 30 yards from goal, beat her defender, and had a try from 18 yards out that sailed just wide of the left post.

In the 53rd minute, Kate Johnson sent a high ball over the top of the Colonel defense. Krankowski ran past her defender and was in alone against the Eastern Kentucky goalkeeper. Krankowski's first-touch shot was saved by a charging Christina Graul.

Furman found its forward behind the defense again in the 57th minute as Morrison ran on to an Erin Sanders through ball, but Morrison's shot was wide of goal.

Furman added an insurance goal at the 80:48 mark on Morrison's team-leading sixth goal of the season and second of the match. Morrison won a free ball at the top of the penalty box, took a touch to beat her defender, and then slotted her 10 yard shot under the diving Eastern Kentucky goalkeeper.

With the win, Furman improves to 4-4 on the season. Eastern Kentucky falls to 0-5-1 overall with the loss.

UNC Greensboro 1, Virginia Tech 0

BLACKSBURG, VA ? Facing its second ACC opponent of the weekend, the UNC Greensboro women’s soccer team picked up its first road victory of the season as the Spartans downed Virginia Tech 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the Virginia Tech Soccer Stadium on the Virginia Tech campus.  With the win, the Spartans remained unbeaten in Blacksburg and improved their overall record to 4-3.

A defensive battle for the majority of the opening stanza, the two clubs managed but seven shots during the first 45 minutes of play.  The Spartan defense, led by keeper Jennifer Stillman’s four first half saves in net, limited the Hokie offense to just four shots in the initial period.  The Randolph, NJ, native notched her third shutout of the season after recording six saves on the afternoon.  UNCG, however, tallied just three first half shots, leaving the game deadlocked at zero at the conclusion of the first half.

“Today was a serious defensive effort by our kids,” head coach Eddie Radwanski said.  “We knew the circumstances facing us today and we knew we had to play well defensively to beat an NCAA Tournament team like Virginia Tech.”

Despite being outshot 10-3 in the second half, the Spartans netted the game’s only goal in the 63rd minute off the head of senior Amy Carnell.

The reigning SoCon Play of the Year, Carnell scored her first goal of the season on a service from teammate and fellow senior Nicollette DeLaine, who collected her team-leading third assist of the season.  DeLaine sent a cross into the Hokie’s box from the near side of the net where Carnell headed the ball past Virginia Tech keeper Mallory Soldner.  UNCG’s goal was the first goal allowed by the Virginia Tech defense in three games, a span of over 342 minutes.

“It was a great win against a good ACC team,” Radwanski said.  “To be able to travel on the road and beat them on their field after Friday’s tough loss to 10th-ranked Wake Forest says a lot about our team.  We knew it would be a challenge today, but our kids found a way to get a win against a well-coached Virginia Tech team.  It was a great result for our team and our program.”

Stephen F. Austin 4, The Citadel 0

NACOGDOCHES, TX - Freshman forward Amanda Alders scored three goals and assisted on a fourth in Stephen F. Austin's match against The Citadel Sunday, leading the Ladyjacks to a 4-0 victory and a co-championship in the 2005 Ladyjack Soccer Classic. SFA won both its matches in the weekend tournament to tie for first place with Southland Conference foe Texas State.

Alders finished with four goals in the two-day tournament and was named co-Tournament MVP for her performance. She shared the top All-Tournament honors with Texas State's Natalie Holder, who scored a goal in each of the Bobcats' victories and assisted on one other goal.

Ladyjack senior defenders Camren Norris and Kim Gray joined Alders on the All-Tournament team. They helped post a pair of shutout victories.

"I was very pleased with our play this weekend, especially in the first game," SFA head coach Jaime Frias said. "The team showed a lot of determination and fight. We did a good job of winning our individual battles and the 50-50 balls."

Alders opened the scoring in Sunday's match with an unassisted goal on a breakaway at the 16-minute mark. Senior goalkeeper Natasia Matesiak recorded three first-half saves to take the Ladyjacks to the break with a 1-0 edge.

SFA got back on the attack quickly after halftime when Alders scored again in the 52nd minute, this time from close range on a nice assist from freshman Amanda Lackey.

Junior Mary Suerkin took a cross from Alders and buried the ball in the back of the net for her first goal of the season just five minutes later.

Surkein returned the favor two minutes later, assisting on Alders' fourth goal of the season to set the final score.

The Ladyjack (5-3) defense held The Citadel (2-5) to just one shot in the second half to secure the win.