Western Carolina 2, Winthrop 0
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's soccer team kicked off their 2007 home season in grand fashion Friday night, scoring two early goals to defeat the Winthrop Eagles 2-0 at the Catamount Athletic Complex.
The win pushes the Catamount winning streak to three games, having gone unbeaten since dropping the first match of the season to Wyoming. Western has also defeated both the reigning Big South regular season champions in UNC Asheville, and tournament champions, Winthrop, in consecutive games. Excluding that initial loss, they have outscored their opponents 8-1 in the three wins, not allowing a second half goal yet.
Western was able to light up the scoreboard first a mere 3:47 into the first half, sophomore forward Shannon Fowkes took a pinpoint through pass from teammate Bri Cunningham and was able to chip the ball over the Winthrop goalkeeper's head and into the back of the net to open the scoring for the Catamounts.
Western was able to utilize their abundance of team speed to keep the attack on the Eagles throughout the first half, dominating the time of possession and forcing Winthrop to play the majority of the half on the defensive. At the 20:14 mark of the first, preseason All-Southern Conference pick Heather Dittmer fired a rocket of a shot from approximately 30 yards into the upper right hand corner of the net. Dittmer was able to shake off two defenders to free herself for the attempt, and chalked up her first goal on the season.
Coach Tammy DeCesare knew that getting the early lead was vital to her team's success.
"It's always a sigh a relief (to get the early lead), because as the game progresses, you are able to make some mistakes," she said. "When you have the lead, you can keep pushing and pushing as the time clicks off."
The second half was characterized by a step up in the physical nature of the game on both sides of the ball. Winthrop used their size advantage to try and take Western out of their game plan and force them into a rough and tumble match without success. DeCesare countered this with a barrage of fresh players substituting into the game, giving plenty of rest to everyone and making sure that whoever was on the field was at 100 percent and nullifying the Winthrop attacks.
Catamount Goalkeeper Caitlin Williams was barely tested in the game, having to make only three saves to record her first career shutout, and extend her streak of three consecutive halves without letting up a single goal. On the season, she has a goals scored against average of .061 and a save percentage of an impressive .882.
Season home openers have also been kind to the Cats lately. The win over Winthrop gives them a perfect 3-0 record in the first home match of the season since the opening of the Catamount Athletic Complex. A rowdy crowd of over 700 packed the Complex and gave the team an emotional boost right off the bat, none of which surprises Coach DeCesare.
"This place generates energy for this team," she said. "This is like hallowed ground here. If I could play every game in Cullowhee, I think I would schedule it. I think the energy, especially here under the lights; it is electric for the girls."
The team will now look to take their winning ways on the road when they travel to ACC and national powerhouse Clemson on Sunday afternoon. Clemson is currently ranked fifth in the southeast region and 27th nationally by SoccerBuzz Magazine. However, Coach says the team is not intimidated by the Tigers and truly believes they have a chance.
"I told them we're good enough to win. If they believe that and let it consume them, I feel like we have a good chance. We don't believe Clemson is something superior to us, and we feel like we can win," concluded DeSesare.
Live stats and play by play will be available on GameTracker through www.Catamountsports.com.
Wofford 1, VMI 0
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Senior Kara Bennewitz scored her first goal in nearly three years as the Wofford women's soccer team maintained a perfect start to the 2007 season with a 1-0 home victory against visiting VMI Friday evening at Snyder Field in Spartanburg, S.C.
Bennewitz tallied the match's only score at 72:29 on assists from sophomore Erika Bishop and freshman Daniella Fatti, the first career points for both players. After receiving the initial pass near midfield from Bishop, Fatti sent a long strike ahead of Bennewitz. Bennewitz then collected the ball, made one step around a Keydet defender and fired a shot from 15 yards out into the upper left corner past VMI (2-1) goalkeeper Heidi Beemer. It was her first goal since another game-winning tally against Georgia Southern Oct. 3, 2004.
Wofford (3-0) had numerous other chances to tack on more goals, including a point-blank opportunity by junior Mary Rea just a minute-and-a-half into the contest which was saved by Beemer. The Terriers held a 19-4 shot advantage overall, including a career-high seven from sophomore Monica Ploetzke.
Freshman Katie McChesney stopped two VMI shots, including an attempt by Chrissy Beach with three minutes remaining, to record her second shutout in three games this season. Her two blankings already tie her with Prentiss Counts (1997) for seventh on the school's career list.
The Terriers will hit the road Sunday for their first road tilt of the season, a 2 p.m. meeting with Kennesaw State in Kennesaw, Ga. The two teams battled to a 0-0 draw last fall in Spartanburg.
Air Force 1, Davidson 0
DAVIDSON, N.C. The Davidson women's soccer team was limited to only two shots and gave up a goal in the 80th minute to Ashley Collins as the Air Force Falcons secured a 1-0 late-decision win over the Wildcats for their first win of the season. Davidson saw its record fall to 1-2 in the early going of the 2007 season, while Air Force improved to 1-2 overall.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools as Davidson is making the program's first-ever trip to the state of Colorado.
After playing a scoreless first half, in which neither team mustered much of an attack, Air Force came through in the 80th minute of the second period.
Collins gathered in a loose ball from 15 yards out and was able to shoot one past senior goalie Bevin English (Charleston, S.C.) off a deflection for her first score of the season. English was just a split-second off of coming up with the save. She finished the contest with five saves.
Both teams combined for only five shots in the first stanza with Davidson's lone two shots for the game coming in that half. Air Force outshot the Wildcats on the evening, 9-2.
Despite the loss, Davidson did have a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks, getting four of them in the first half, but were never able to capitalize on any of them.
The Wildcats wrap up their visit in Colorado when they battle Colorado College on Sunday at 1 p.m. (EST). Both teams played to a 2-2 draw in their only matchup ever back in 2005. The Tigers (1-1-1) defeated McNeese State by the score of 1-0 in their latest game on Friday.
Scoring Summary
80:05 AF Ashley Collins (1) (unassisted)
Northwestern 3, UNC Greensboro 2
BOCA RATON, FL ?Despite two goals from Heather Deutschle and a 2-1 halftime lead, the UNC Greensboro women’s soccer team fell to Northwestern, 3-2 in the first game of the Florida Atlantic Classic on Friday evening.
UNCG (2-1) was led by Deutschle who tallied both goals. Kristin Player and Jessica Patterson each tallied one shot on goal while Katie Evans had the assist on UNCG’s first goal. UNCG goalkeeper Katherine Ryan recorded four saves in 90 minutes of action.
Northwestern (2-1-0) was led by Shannon Schneeman, who also tallied two goals including the game-winner. Sam Greene also added a goal for the Wildcats.
The first half was evenly played in the early minutes of the first half with both teams recording early shots but it was the Spartans that got on the board first in the 34th minute. Deutschle got the ball on a long pass from Evans and was able to put it in the right corner just behind Northwestern goalkeeper Lauren Johnston for the 1-0 lead.
Deutschle would strike again only minutes later with a ball taken from the middle of the field that she touched just past the goalkeeper to put UNCG up 2-0.
Northwestern was able to cut into the lead just before halftime with a goal from Sam Greene. Greene collected the ball from teammate Kelsey Hans and headed it just past Ryan to cut into the Spartan lead.
The Wildcats struck again just a minute into the second half. Schneeman hit a bullet from the right side of the box behind Ryan to even the score at 2-2. Scheeman wasn’t done and put the game out of reach in the 74th minute with another goal to give the Wildcats the game.
The Spartans conclude action at the Florida Atlantic Classic when they take on Ball State tomorrow morning. Kickoff is set for 11 am. UNCG returns home September 12 when they take on the defending national champions, North Carolina.
AGATE
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
UNC-Greensboro...... 2 0 - 2
Northwestern........ 1 2 - 3
SCORING SUMMARY: 33:27 UNCG Heather Deutschle (1) (Katie Evans), 36:57 UNCG Heather Deutschle (2) 41:42 NU Sam Greene (1) (Kelsey Hans),45:55 NU Shannon Schneeman (1),73:06 NU Shannon Schneeman (2) (unassisted) Shots: UNC-Greensboro 7, Northwestern 10, Saves: UNC-Greensboro 4 (Katherine Ryan 4), Northwestern 2 (Lauren Johnston 2), Corner Kicks-UNC Greensboro 5, Northwestern 3, Fouls-UNC Greensboro 12, Northwestern 10
East Tennessee State 4, The Citadel 0
Jacksonville, Ala.? The Citadel women’s soccer team lost the opening game of the Jacksonville State Gamecock Soccer Classic to East Tennessee State, 0-4. The Bulldogs fall to 0-3 overall while the Bucs improve to 1-1-1.
The Bucs jumped out to an early lead as Jordan Monty found the back of the net on a pass from Katie Green in the 17th minute of play for her second goal of the season.
Just under fifteen minutes later Green netted her first goal as a Buc on a pass from the corner of the box from Monty.
In the second half ETSU continued their scoring run as newcomer Morgan Jutras scored on a pass from Rachel Layer during the 57th minute.
Monty netted the last goal of the match on a corner kick with 20 minutes left in the half.h
“Despite the loss, I am pleased with the way we played tonight,” said head coach Bob Winch. “We kept possession and moved off the ball well. The team will continue to try to look to play the ball forward through the midfield and then to the forwards.”
Freshman Jessa Scott lead the Bulldogs with four shots, while Rachelle Ornelas and Dianna Martin each notched a shot.
“Scott played very well for us up top and Jessica Stewart made some great runs out of the back,” said Winch. We are improving every game and beginning to put some of the pieces together offensively and defensively.”
“Sunday should be a good game and I know the girls will come out strong and try to earn our first win,” said Winch.
ETSU outshot The Citadel 22-6, with Britni Bunnell adding two saves to her career record-breaking streak and Emily Green stopping three.
The Citadel will be back in action on Sunday, September 9, when they play host team JSU at 3 p.m. CT.
For more information on Citadel women’s soccer log onto citadelsports.com.
UNC Wilmington 2, College of Charleston 0
Kelly Renkin and Jenna Evans tallied goals as UNC-Wilmington defeated College of Charleston 2-0 Friday night at UNCW Soccer Stadium.
“To lose a match like that, which we had in control for large stretches, is unacceptable,” Head Coach Kevin Dempsey said. “We might be an attractive team to watch but we are not effective enough right now.”
In a game that seemed destined for overtime, Evans took a mis-cleared ball from Alanna Jordan in the 88th minute. She slipped pass Cougar goalkeeper Sarah Wiggers and passed to Renkin who tapped it into the empty net.
A minute later, Evans added an insurance tally with the Cougars pushing up for the equalizer.
Kerry Broderick had what looked to be the go-ahead goal for the Cougars (0-2) in the 69th minute when she followed an Emily Morgan shot bobbled by UNCW keeper Jamie Balzarini but poked the rebound right into Balzarini’s body.
The Seahawks held a 12-8 advantage in shots and recorded six corner kicks on the evening to Charleston's three.
“We’ll get to work and regroup for an important match on Tuesday,” Dempsey said.
College of Charleston will return home to face Charleston Southern in the Silver Cup Derby Tues., Sept. 11, at 7:00 at Patriots Point Field in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
The match is named for the trophy given to the winner of the annual non-conference match, which the Cougars have held since 2001 (5-0-1).