Furman 9, Columbia College 0
Greenville, S.C. -- Katie Tucker and Emily Krankowski each scored a pair of goals to lead Furman past Columbia College 9-0 in women’s soccer action Wednesday evening at Stone Soccer Stadium.
Krankowski netted her first goal of the season less than five minutes in, out running the defense and slotting a shot to the right hand corner. In the 19th minute Krankowski’s shot was deflected and Sara El-Shami hammered home her first goal of the season to up the score to 2-0.
After Anna Betton added her fifth goal of the season on a breakaway, Olivia Dashiell ran onto a Kate Myatt through ball and beat the Fighting Koalas keeper to up the margin to 4-0 at the break.
Tucker opened the second half scoring in the 54th minute. Rachel Fry dribbled to the end line and centered a pass to Tucker who buried the shot to give Furman a 5-0 lead. Less than three minutes later, Fry registered a goal of her on receiving a long ball from El-Shami and beating the defense around the right side.
Meagan Zusi netted her second goal of the year at the 59-minute mark off of a rebound, Krankowski scored on a breakaway and Tucker bagged her second goal on an assist from Betton at 76:47 to cap the scoring.
Sophomore Briana da Mota recorded the shutout in goal, but was not forced to make a save as Furman held a 39-1 edge in shot attempts.
The win improved Furman to 4-1-0 on the year while Columbia fell to 4-4-0.
Furman returns to action this weekend at the Carolinas’ Cup in Charlotte, N.C. The Lady Paladins battle Clemson at 5 p.m. on Friday before facing South Carolina at noon on Sunday.
North Carolina 3, UNC Greensboro 0
GREENSBORO, NC ? The UNC Greensboro women’s soccer team dropped a heartbreaker this evening to nationally ranked North Carolina. The Spartans held the Tar Heels to just one goal in the first half, but lost the battle as Carolina was able to notch two more in the second for a 3-0 final.
This marks the first time since 1989 that the No. 2 Tar Heels have made the trip to Greensboro. The anticipation of a great match-up brought out the largest crowd the UNCG women’s soccer team has ever entertained at home.
The attendance of 2,844 was not only a new record for the women, but also marked the sixth largest crowd (men’s or women’s) since the stadium was remodeled in 1991 and the largest crowd since the Oct. 2, 1999 men’s homecoming game against Wake Forest when 2,914 fans packed the stadium.
As far as on the field, control seemed to be in the hands of North Carolina for the first five minutes until a short chop by senior Karla Davis over the UNC defense gave the Spartans a jumpstart. Sophomore Jen Bronson nabbed the ball on the left side, but was unable to put it in the net.
In the 8th minute, North Carolina’s Whitney Engen scored her first goal of the season, and what turned out to be the game-winner, with a right corner shot from the top of the key.
With nearly 30 minutes left to go in the half, UNCG’s Bronson and freshman Kristin Player found themselves with open room in front of the Tar Heels goal, but the shot opportunity came up just short as the Carolina defense was able to recover.
The remaining minutes of the first half was a defensive battle on both ends of the pitch. Both UNCG and the Tar Heels created multiple scoring opportunities, but it was the defensive lines that kept it to such a tight game.
UNCG’s Player got a shot off early to start the second half, but North Carolina’s Anna Rodenbough was able to nab it before it could cross the line.
At 63:56 UNC’s Mandy Moraca jammed a crossbar ricochet into the right side of the net for Carolina’s second goal of the game. Yael Averbuch is credited with the assist as it was her off-the-mark shot to the crossbar the set-up Moraca’s first goal of the season.
The Tar Heels added another goal with nearly 22 minutes left to go as Sterling Smith was able to put the ball into the back of the net from the top of the arc. This was her second goal of the season.
Senior goal-minder Katherine Ryan seized the opportunity throughout the game to make some great saves, including a corner kick nab in the middle of traffic. Ryan got a bit knocked around near the end of the game and was relieved by freshman Barrie Vogel with 20:57 left to go. On the evening, Ryan notched 3 saves.
Head coach Eddie Radwanski found the opportunity to play such a high-quality team as another chance to make his Spartan squad even stronger. “We have to take what we learned from this game and use it to prepare us for our next two games and ultimately for conference play.”
“I’m pleased with everyone’s effort, fight, and intensity. We had a few successes going forward, but sometimes that final pass just isn’t where it should be.”
He went on to commend UNC Head Coach Anson Dorrance on the tradition he has built in Chapel Hill.
“This team is very good at what they do and they are not defending national champions for no reason. They brought us 90 minutes of pressure, but this sort of opportunity is something that is just too good to pass up.”
The Tar Heels have won 19 national championships since 1981 and in his 29 seasons at UNC, Dorrance has amassed 631 victories and just 29 losses.
Following the end of the game, sophomore Lauren Lopez was named the Greg Harrison UNCG Player of the game as voted on by the UNCG coaching staff.
The Spartans will return to UNCG Soccer Stadium on Saturday as they take on Wake Forest at 7pm.
For more information on UNCG women’s soccer and all other Spartan athletics visit www.uncgspartans.com.
AGATE
SCORE BY PERIODS
UNCG..... 0 0 0
UNC....... 1 2 3
SCORING SUMMARY: UNC Engen (1), 8:39; UNC Moraca (1) (Averbuch), 63:56, UNC Smith (2), 68:12. Shots: UNC 12, UNC Greensboro 3. Saves: UNC 2 (Rodenbough 2), UNC Greensboro 6 (Ryan 3). Corner Kicks: UNC 8, UNC Greensboro 2. Fouls: UNC 12, UNC Greensboro 13.
Coastal Carolina 3, The Citadel 0
Conway, S.C.- The Citadel soccer team was defeated by Coastal Carolina Wednesday night, 3-0. The Bulldogs fall to 1-4, while the Chanticleers earn their first win of the 2007 season, improving their record to 1-3-1.
Junior Blair Monroe got Coastal on the board at 12:38 on a strike from five yards out. The assist went to senior Ashleigh Gunning as Monroe scored her 26th career goal. Coastal had 13 shots, four on goal, in the first half, but probably its best chance to add a goal in the first 45 minutes came on a Gunning bender that hit the post.
At 58:59, senior Amanda Gelsomino (received a Monroe cross and put it into the net for her second goal of the season. The Lady Chanticeers wrapped up the scoring at 83:03 when junior Danielle DeSonia chipped a ball to the head of Heather Haupt, who beat Bulldog goalie Lisa Wilson for her first goal of the year.
Coastal had a 16-5 second-half shot advantage and the Lady Chants took all eight
corners in the game. Redshirt junior Britt Pecora stopped two shots for the win, while Brit Bunnell and Wilson combined for nine saves. Wilson notched six saves, a career high for the freshman.
Emily Haller and Jessa Scott had two shots apiece for The Citadel, while Rachelle Ornelas added one shot.
The Bulldogs return to action this Friday, September 14 when they host Presbyterian College at 4 p.m. The game will mark the first home game for the Bulldogs since their season opener exhibition game against Campbell on August 20.
For more information on Bulldog soccer, log onto www.CitadelSports.com.