Davidson 3, Winthrop 1
ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Davidson women?s soccer team started the 2009 season off in winning fashion behind a goal and assist from sophomore Stephanie Gerow, as the Wildcats scored a 3-1 season-opening road win at Winthrop on Saturday evening.
The Wildcats (1-0) improved to 4-2 in season opening wins under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Greg Ashton, and tallied their second win in the all-time series vs. the Eagles.
Beside Gerow’s goal and assist, senior Lauren Conner set up two goals on corner kicks, and Blakely Low and Amanda Flink each netted their first scores of the season.
Davidson came out running right at the Winthrop defense, getting off two direct shots on goal in the first two minutes with Gerow hitting the cross bar and senior Kyri Bye-Nagel having her attempt stopped on a diving effort by the Eagles? goalkeeper.
The Cats would not be denied on their third shot as they capitalized on a corner kick in the fourth minute. Senior Lauren Conner sent the ball into the six-yard box where Gerow touched it to Flink, who then headed the pass into the back of the net for the first score of the game.
Gerow and the Wildcats wasted no time in the second half pushing their lead out to 2-0, connecting three minutes into the new half. They made it two-for-two on corner kicks when Conner sent a nice ball to the far side of the box where Gerow took it out of the air and headed in her fourth career goal in the 47th minute.
Seven minutes later, Low got in on the scoring with some stellar foot work. After Bye-Nagel passed off the ball just outside the 18-yard box, Low dribbled through three defenders in the middle of the box and chipped the ball to the far post off the hand of Kelsy Weavil in goal for a 3-0
advantage.
Winthrop broke through in the 57th minute as Jessica Hausfeld sent a long through ball to the far side of the field, where Tricia Vensel raced past her defender and met up with the pass. She drove in and fired a shot to the near post past a diving Jessie Baxa to make the
sore 3-1.
Baxa and senior Loring Ward combined for a save apiece, while Winthrop?s Weavil finished with seven.
Davidson held a 16-6 advantage in the shot column and had five corners.
The Wildcats stay on the road with a trip to N.C. State next Friday evening, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Clemson 4, Wofford 0
CLEMSON, S.C. ? The Wofford women’s soccer team opened the 2009 season with a 4-0 loss to Clemson on Saturday night at Riggs Field. The Tigers scored three goals in the second half to pull away.
Wofford is 0-1 on the season, while the Tigers open the year 1-0. Wofford was outshot in the contest 17-2. Clemson has won all six meetings against the Terriers.
Clemson took a 1-0 lead into halftime after scoring on a penalty kick taken by senior midfielder Molly Franklin. Junior forward Judea Davis was taken down in the box, which resulted in the penalty kick opportunity for the Tigers.
The Tigers' second goal of the game was netted by Elder in the 55th minute of play. Sophomore midfielder Sarah Jacobs sent the ball in from the wide left to Elder, who was waiting near the top of the box to send her first career goal into the net.
Less than two minutes later, another freshman, Callie Cavanaugh, put Clemson's third goal on the board. Cavanaugh was standing inside the box on a Tiger free kick, which bounced off a Wofford defender and directly to the freshman, who was able to turn and put the ball in the net.
Elder scored her second goal of the game in the 61st minute. She dribbled up the field past a Wofford defender and shot the unassisted goal by the Terrier keeper.
For the Terriers, goalie Katie McChesney played 12:02 and allowed one goal, while Erika Christensen played 77:58 and made four saves. Clemson goalie Paula Pritzen made one save in the shutout. Clemson had a 3-2 advantage on corner kicks.
Wofford will return to the pitch on Sunday, August 30, when the Terriers host Virginia Commonwealth at 2:00 pm. It will mark the home opener for Wofford.
Charleston Southern 2, Georgia Southern 1
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern women's soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit to prevent a shutout but was unable to complete the comeback, dropping the season opener to Charleston Southern 2-1.
Newcomer Krystin Smith cut the Buccaneers' lead to a goal in the second half and broke up the shutout with a strike from the top of the penalty box off of a pass from Danae Kaimuloa.
Jenny Anderson tallied three shots including one on goal from the forward position. Kate Boardman and Morgan Springer also added a shot on goal.
The Eagles' all-time saves leader, Lauren Santos, tallied eight more saves in her first start of the season.
Charleston Southern scored two first half goals. Jen Vroman placed both in the net for the Buccaneers. Marky Boyce assisted on the first goal, a through pass from the left side. Caitlin Wesnesky set up the second goal in the 23rd minute of play.
Women's soccer heads to Washington, D.C. for a tournament Friday and will face American at 3:30 p.m.