#1 UNC Greensboro 1, #4 College of Charleston 0
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Top-seeded UNC Greensboro defeated fourth-seeded College of Charleston, 1-0, Friday night in the semifinal round of the 2007 Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship. The Spartans will face either Davidson or Furman in the championship match Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Senior Mary Kate Towne gave the Spartans the early lead with a goal in the 11th minute. Towne collected a pass from Kristin Player and sent the ball beneath Charleston keeper Sarah Wiggers.
UNCG goalkeeper Katherine Ryan made the Spartans’ lead stand, earning her ninth shutout of the season. Ryan stopped five Cougars shots on the evening, including a Danielle Jordan blast in the second half.
“It was really a team effort tonight,” said UNC Greensboro head coach Eddie Radwanski. “Katherine (Ryan) played a really strong game in goal. Our defense kept pushing them up and the forwards kept taking the ball to the goal. At this stage it’s all about advancing. The Championship has always been our goal and on Sunday, we’ll have the chance to win it.”
UNC Greensboro owned a 13-5 advantage in shots on the evening, including 11 in the second half. Wiggers collected six saves for the Cougars.
The Spartans, who improved to 15-3-1 with the victory, will be gunning for their seventh SoCon Tournament title in the past 11 seasons on Sunday afternoon. College of Charleston fell to 9-8-3 on the season.
#3 Furman 1, #2 Davidson 0 (2 OT)
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Furman’s Rachel Fry headed in the game-winning goal with just 2.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime to send third-seeded Furman past second-seeded Davidson and into the championship round of the 2007 Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship. Furman will take on UNC Greensboro at 1:00 p.m. Sunday at Davidson’s Alumni Soccer Stadium.
After more than 109 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Lady Paladins and Wildcats seemed destined to head to penalty kicks. Furman’s Fry, however, collected a long pass into the box with less than 10 seconds left on the clock and attempted to head in the game-winner. After a missed header and an attempt to clear the ball by the Davidson defense, Fry sent the ball into the open net to seal the victory.
“Rachel Fry is that type of player who will keep fighting even after 110 minutes,” said Furman head coach Andrew Burr. “She stuck with the ball in the box and came up huge for us. Davidson is a very good team and had us pinned in much of the night, especially in the overtime periods. My hat goes off to them for a great effort.”
Both goalkeepers shined on the night with Davidson’s Bevin English saving six shots and Furman’s Briana da Mota collecting 10 saves and her eighth shutout on the season.
Davidson controlled possession for much of the match but was unable to finish any of its chances. The Wildcats maintained an 18-12 advantage in shots, including five attempts in the two overtime periods.
With the win, Furman improves to 15-5-1 on the year and advances to face top-seeded UNC Greensboro Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in the SoCon championship match for the second consecutive season. Davidson’s record falls to 14-5-1 following the defeat.
To watch the final match of the 2007 Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship, visit www.SoConSports.com.