College of Charleston 1, North Florida 0
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Freshman Hope Atkinson headed in a goal in the 69th minute, to propel the College of Charleston women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over North Florida on Sunday at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
With the win, the Cougars begin the season with wins in their first two matches. North Florida drops to 0-1-1 after the defeat.
"Today's game was a battle of wills with all the heat we had to deal with," said head coach Kevin Dempsey. "We just found a win to win against a very good North Florida team. Winning the first two games of the year is great, but we have to build off of this"
After both teams failed to score in the first half, North Florida threatened in the 55th minute. Goalie Erin Smith made a diving save that deflected the shot off the top post of the goal, stopping the scoring threat.
Charleston challenged several times throughout the period and finally broke through in the 69th minute when Atkinson took a pass from Hannah Gmerek and headed it in for what turned out to be the game-winner.
"It's exciting to see a freshman like Hope score two goals in the first two games of her career."
The Cougars return to action on Friday, August 29th when they visit USC Upstate, with game time set for 7:30 p.m. North Florida travels to Georgia State for a 3 p.m. match on September 5th.
Soccer Game Summary (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook
North Florida vs Coll. of Charleston (Aug 24, 2008 at Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
North Florida (0-1-1) vs. Coll. of Charleston (2-0-0)
Date: Aug 24, 2008 Attendance: 86
Weather: Warm and Sunny
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
North Florida....... 0 0 - 0
Coll. of Charleston. 0 1 - 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 69:40 COFC Hope Atkinson (Hannah Gmerek)
Shots: North Florida 8, Coll. of Charleston 5
Saves: North Florida 1 (HOWARD, Rachael 1), Coll. of Charleston 6 (Erin Smith 6)
Utah 2, UNC Greensboro 1 (2OT)
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? The UNC Greensboro women’s soccer team out-shot Utah
15-13 on the afternoon but it wasn’t enough as Utah was able to find the back of the net in the second overtime to hand the Spartans a 2-1 loss, Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
The loss drops the Spartans to 1-1-0 on the young season while Utah improves to 1-1-0 after losing to Wake Forest in over time on Friday evening by a 2-1 score. Mary Kate Towne (Royal Palm Beach, FL) led all players with six shots, including three on goal while Katy Reineke took five attempts on net with just one coming on goal. The Spartans also held the advantage on corner kicks with six to just four for Utah.
“I thought we played well,” said UNCG head coach Eddie Radwanski. “I can’t be disappointed in our performance, we just got caught on a counter that didn’t go our way in the end.”
Utah took an early lead as Katie Martinez connected on a rebound in front of the goal to send the ball past UNCG goal keeper Barrie Vogel (Charlotte, NC). The Spartans had an opportunity to net the equalizer when Towne ripped two straight shots but came up empty as the first was blocked by a Utah defender and the second saved by Ute’s keeper Emalee Rogers.
UNCG had limited opportunities until the 42nd minute of the half when a streaking Jen Bronson (Raleigh, NC) slotted the ball through to the top of the box where it found the feet of Kristin Player (Placentia, CA). Player turned, taking three touches on the ball before sending her shot into the lower left corner past a diving Rogers to put the Spartans up 2-1.
Towne and Player gave UNCG their best opportunity of the second half to seal the win but both came up short. Towne turned and ripped a shot from the top of the penalty box only to have it deflected off the goal line to Player who then had her attempt blocked by a Utah defender. Utah’s last attempt of the second half came up empty as well, sailing just wide of the post.
It looked as if the Spartans would end the game in the first overtime when Player sent a beautiful corner kick into the box that found the head of senior Jamie Corti (Apex, NC). Corti, looking for her second goal in as many games, headed the ball home but the goal was called off because of a foul. With much of momentum going the Spartans’ way in overtime, Utah was able to find the back of the net on a counter attack that gave them the game winner. Kelly Isleib turned and took a shot from the top of the box that was able to find it’s way past a diving Vogel to give the Utes the game-winner and first victory of the 2008 season.
“It was full steam ahead for us in the second half and overtime,” Radwanski said. “Unfortunately for us they got the one shot they were looking for.”
The Spartans will be in action again Friday, August 29 when they welcome George Mason to the UNCG Soccer Stadium. Game time is set for 7 pm and as always, live stats can be found on www.uncgspartans.com.
AGATE
Goals by period 1 2 OT 2OT
Utah 1 0 0 1
UNCG 1 0 0 0
Shots by period 1 2 OT 2OT
Utah 9 3 0 1
UNCG 6 7 2 0
Corner Kicks 1 2 OT 2OT
Utah 4 0 0 0
UNCG 2 3 1 0
Scoring Summary: Utah ? Katie Martinez (rebound) 16:50, UNCG ? Kristin Player (Jen Bronson) 41:23, Utah ? Kelly Isleib (unassisted) 101:35
Wofford 1, High Point 1 (2OT)
HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Junior Monica Ploetzke netted Wofford's first goal of the season but the Terriers could not find the back of the net again as they earned a 1-1 double overtime tie at High Point in women's soccer action Sunday afternoon in High Point, N.C.
Ploetzke, who registered three goals a year ago, evened the scoring at 57:46 when she knocked in a header from classmate Blair Green's crossing pass.
The host Panthers jumped out in front early as Sara Rager sent a cross from the left side to Taylor Ray, who then fired her attempt past Wofford (0-1-1) goalkeeper Katie McChesney from the top of the 18-yard box at 1:38.
High Point (0-1-1) continued to control much of the offensive attack, holding a 15-4 shot advantage through the 110 minutes. However, McChesney provided a solid last line of defense for the second-straight game with seven saves to keep the visitors within reach of their first victory of the season.
With under a minute to play in regulation, freshman Sydney Reed had a chance to score the game winner, but her header sailed just wide of the High Point net. Wofford continued to push forward throughout the second 45 minutes, resulting in five corner kicks.
Green and sophomore Nikki Siebert were credited with the other two shots for the Terriers.
The Terriers will return to action when they participate in the Select Kick-Off Classic Friday and Sunday at Furman in Greenville, S.C. Wofford will battle Canisius at 5 p.m. Friday before taking on Coastal Carolina at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Eugene E. Stone III Soccer Stadium.
North Carolina State 2, Western Carolina 0
Raleigh, N.C. ? North Carolina State broke open a scoreless affair inside the opening minute of the second half, downing Western Carolina, 2-0, Sunday afternoon at the N.C. State Soccer Stadium.
Knotted at zero through the opening 45 minutes, the Wolfpack started the second half quickly, scoring a mere 32 seconds after intermission. NCSU freshman Paige Dugal beat Catamount keeper, Caitlin Williams one-on-one after receiving a through ball from teammate, Kara Baldy, for what proved to be the game-winner. Dugal buried a shot into the lower right corner of the goal for her first collegiate tally, giving NC State the 1-0 lead.
The Wolfpack added an insurance goal late from sophomore Nadia Aboulhosn, who dribbled twice and scored on a 15 yarder that sailed into the upper right corner past Williams for the 2-0 score.
The Catamounts nearly got one back in the 85th minute when junior Shannon Fowkes blasted a point-blank shot on net. However, Wolfpack keeper Kim Kern made her best save of the weekend to preserve the shutout.
The first half of play was very competitive with the Catamounts getting some chances early when a shot by junior Bri Cunningham went high. Williams kept the Catamounts in the match with her stellar play in net. Williams came up with five saves in the first half to keep the game tied at zero.
“Caitlin (Williams) came up big for us in the first half keeping the match close and we needed that kind of effort,” said head coach Tammy DeCesare. “We didn’t find our rhyme until 25 minutes into the second half but I felt we had some quality chances late.”
Williams finished with 10 saves in the loss.
The Catamounts were out-shot 17-8 in the contest, with all three of WCU’s second half offerings coming late. Junior Nikki Collins led the way with two shots, both of which were on goal, for WCU.
Western Carolina women’s soccer will have just over a week to get ready for its home opener against the Butler Bulldogs on September 5 at the Catamount Athletic Complex. DeCesare plans on utilizing the extra time between matches to concentrate on playing a full match.
“We just need to keep the intensity up for 90 minutes and compete as hard as we can,” said DeCesare.
The home opener is scheduled for Noon kickoff as WCU celebrates “Education Day.”
Gardner-Webb 2, The Citadel 0
Charleston, S.C. ? The Citadel Women’s Soccer team fell 2-0 to the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs in their season-opener on Sunday at Washington Light Infantry Field.
Both teams put up a strong defensive effort, with The Citadel holding the Runnin’ Bulldogs until the end of the first half. However, Paige Reagan from Gardner-Webb was the first to take a goal through The Citadel’s tight defense. Whitney Nave had five total saves for the Bulldogs.
Megan Reimer from Gardner-Webb opened the second half with their second goal within five minutes of the game to put the Runnin' Bulldogs up, 2-0. In the last 40:30 left to play, neither team reached the net.
Coach Bob Winch was really impressed with Jessa Scott and his freshman standout, Leah Hawkins. Scott shot four times with two shots on goal while Hawkins shot three times with one shot on goal.
The Citadel will travel across town on Sept. 1 to take on city rival Charleston Southern before traveling to Huntington, W.Va. for the Marshall University adidas Soccer Classic.
For more information on Bulldog Soccer or The Citadel Athletics, visit the official website of Bulldog Athletics at www.CitadelSports.com.