Wofford 3, Coastal Carolina 2 (OT)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Wofford sophomore forward Monica Ploetzke was the heroine for the second-straight game as she scored the game winner, her second goal of the night, with just over two minutes passed in the first overtime frame to give the Terriers a 3-2 OT triumph against visiting Coastal Carolina at Snyder Field Monday night.
Ploetzke, who joined the Wofford (2-0) squad midway through the 2006 campaign and only appeared in one game last fall, came off the bench to score the game's first goal at 40:10. After classmate Aubrey Thomson sent a cross to her, Ploetzke corralled the pass, turned and fired a shot from 20 yards out past Chanticleer goalkeeper Karen Pavlick. Her goal would hold up as the only tally on the scoreboard as the teams headed to the half.
Coastal Carolina (0-1), however, would not surrender as Ashleigh Gunning scored twice within a seven-minute period early in the second half to put the visitors up one. Her first goal came at 48:23 as she received a through pass from Sara Niles and then beat a Terrier defender. Gunning's second score was a deflection off her foot just in front of Wofford keeper Katie McChesney following a free kick from 40 yards out taken by Maegan Hellberg at 55:09.
The Terriers, though, would get the best chances of either team following the second Chanticleer goal. Wofford broke through with a game-tying shot from senior captain Whitney Steelman at 81:03. The play was initially set up near the midfield line as sophomore Kendra Merchant dropped a shot pass to Ploetzke, who then found a streaking Steelman down the right side. Steelman gathered the pass in stride and beat her defender before sending her shot across the goal mouth, past a charging Pavlick and sending the Terrier crowd into a frenzy.
Wofford allowed Coastal to get the first shot in the extra period, but Merchant again delievered a short pass to Ploetzke, this time from nearly 30 yards from the cage. Ploetzke sent her shot, the Terriers' only attempt of the overtime session, into the back of the net at 92:20 for her second game-winning goal of the early season.
The win was Wofford's first-ever overtime victory against a non-conference opponent since the Terriers began competition in 1994. It was also the program's first overtime triumph since a 1-0 win at College of Charleston Sept. 16, 2003.
Steelman, with her score, now has 36 career points moving her into a ninth-place tie with Christie Clark (1994-97) on the school's all-time list. Her 12 career goals also tie her for ninth all-time in the category with Amanda Leyland (1997-2000).
Wofford will conclude its season-opening three-game homestand with a 6 p.m. Friday match against VMI.
Appalachian State 0, Winthrop 0 (2OT)
BOONE, N.C. - The Appalachian State women’s soccer team fought to a 0-0 draw with Winthrop on Monday afternoon. The Mountaineers were not short on chances, taking 22 shots in the 110 minutes. With the draw, Appalachian moves to 1-0-1 on the young season
“We had plenty of chances,” said Head Coach Ben Popoola. “We just couldn’t finish our opportunities. We put the ball where we wanted in the attacking third, it was a pity that we couldn’t squeeze one in there.”
Starring for the Mountaineers was the defense who limited Winthrop to only 10 shots. Led by senior captain Courtney O’Brien the defensive unit earned their second clean sheet of the season. The team has now gone 200 minutes without allowing a goal.
“Courtney just did an awesome job for us tonight,” added Popoola. “She did everything that I expect a senior captain to do.”
In goal for the Mountaineers was freshman Caroline Clarke making the first start of her career. Clarke made five saves en route to the first shutout in her first career match.
Chances were not hard to find for Appalachian as sophomore Caroline Lowe tallied eight shots with five on goal. Following Lowe was junior Casey Cleary with four shots and two on goal.
Appalachian now travels to UNC-Wilmington for a September 9 clash with the Seahawks beginning at 2:00. The next home match is scheduled for September 11 as the Mountaineers take on UNC-Asheville at the ASU Soccer Stadium.
VMI 1, The Citadel 0
Lexington, Va.- Sophomore Alexi Staton scored her first career goal only two minutes after entering the contest, as VMI scored their second-straight win over The Citadel on Monday afternoon at Patchin Field. The Bulldogs fall to 0-2, while the Keydets improve to 2-0.
Staton entered the game in the 33rd minute, and in the 35th minute, found herself in front of the goal with the ball after a pass from Jessica Robbins. Staton converted the shot for the game’s lone goal.
VMI out shot The Citadel 17-3, while being called for 18 fouls to the Dog’s 12. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Green and senior Britni Bunnell split time between the pipes. Rachelle Ornelas, Jessa Scott and Kritine Devine each tallied a shot.
“VMI came at us hard,” said head coach Bob Winch. “It took us 35 minutes to really get into the game and that is just too long. We played better the second half, but need to learn to play a full 90 minutes.”
The win squares the series between the Keydets and Bulldogs at 2-2, as The Citadel claimed the first two victories in the series. Each team has won once at home and once away.
“This week we need to focus on building the ball from the back and possess the ball through the midfield,” said Winch. “We have to have the confidence to be able to hold onto the ball and be patient.”
The Bulldogs will travel to play in the Jacksonville State University Tournament and play East Tennessee State at 5 p.m. on Friday. They then will play host team, JSU on Sunday at 3 p.m. For more information on Citadel soccer, log onto www.citadelsports.com.