Elon 1, Coastal Carolina 0
ELON, N.C. -- Senior Molly Calpin netted the game-winner in the 85th minute of play to give the Elon women's soccer team a 1-0 victory over the visiting Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Rudd Field on Wednesday evening. The goal secured Elon's second consecutive victory and its third shutout of the young season. The Phoenix improve to 2-1-1 overall while Coastal drops to 1-5 on the year.
"This was another hard fought game and we are happy to have ended up on the winning side of it," commented Elon head coach Chris Neal. "I thought we outplayed them in the first half, but we have developed a habit of allowing teams back in the game in the second half. It took several great defensive efforts to keep Coastal from scoring. Once we settled down, we got back in the game and Molly finished well."
The Phoenix had the majority of the attack especially in the opening half. Elon held an 8-2 advantage in the shot column through the first 45 minutes of action, but was unable to find the back of the net.
The final period started slow, neither team able to find a rhythm. A physical Coastal team gained momentum, working to create opportunities at the net. With under 15 minutes to play, the Chanticleers' Dana Gentile had a breakaway that was going to put her one-on-one with Elon goalie Sydney Little. Phoenix freshman Claire O'Keefe ran her down and made a game-saving tackle to keep Gentile from getting a shot off.
The energy shifted and Elon continued to attack. Freshman Ceci Jensen fed a long ball into the box, finding the feet of Calpin who netted her first goal of the season on a strike from about eight yards out at the 84:10 mark. The Phoenix defense held strong and secured the victory.
With a 12-9 shot advantage against Coastal, Elon has outshot each of its opponents this season. Little earned her third shutout of the year, posting three saves in the effort. Chanticleer keepers Karen Pavlick and Amy Haggard split time in the net. Pavlick made three saves on the night.
The Phoenix remains at home to challenge NC State on Sunday, September 13 at 5 p.m. at Rudd Field.
Furman 2, UNC Asheville 1
Asheville, N.C. -- Lucy Martin and Martha Hall each tallied goals in the opening six minutes as Furman slipped by UNC Asheville 2-1 in non-conference women’s soccer action Wednesday afternoon at a wet and soggy Greenwood Field in Asheville, N.C.
With the victory, Furman improved to 5-0 on the season and stretched its unbeaten streak to 10 matches, dating back to October of 2008. UNCA fell to 2-2 on the season.
Just 43 seconds into the match, Sara El-Shami served a corner kick into the box and Lucy Martin slotted a shot past Bulldog keeper Megan Dent to give Furman a 1-0 lead. Martha Hall doubled the lead and netted her Southern Conference leading seventh goal of the season at 5:10. The sophomore collected the ball in the box and, after having her first effort blocked, fired past Dent.
Chloe Small-McCleary pulled a goal back for UNCA at 9:32. Katy Beeler found room down the right side and lofted a cross towards the far post where Small-McCleary volleyed in her second goal of the season.
Furman maintained a 16-7 edge on shots and 11-4 advantage on corner kicks. Jessica Smith made two saves to earn the victory in net for the Paladins.
The Paladins will take part in the Carolinas’ Cup this weekend in Clemson, S.C. Furman faces UNC Wilmington at 5 p.m. on Friday before battling host Clemson at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Charleston Southern 2, The Citadel 1
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Citadel soccer team was defeated by Charleston Southern, 2-1, on Wednesday afternoon at WLI Field on The Citadel's campus.
The Citadel’s Nikkita Persaud opened with a quick shot about 20 seconds into the first half that was saved by Charleston Southern's Alyssa Budros. The Bulldogs' momentum continued as Nikki Mares had another opportunity to score for the Bulldogs, taking a shot on goal with 35:26 on the clock. Persaud then took a hard open shot that was blocked by Budros. CSU’s Sarah Catenecci put the first point on the board with 14:35 left to play. Charleston Southern ended the first half leading 1-0.
The Buccaneers dominated play at the start of the second half. Charleston Southern shot three times and earned three corner kicks before the Bulldogs tied the game. Dianna Martin took the first Citadel shot 33 minutes into the second half and scored with Persaud and Amy Loughran tallying the assists. It wasn't long before the Buccaneers responded five minutes later with another goal by Marky Boyce. Charleston Southern outshot the Bulldogs 24-9 and Whitney Nave recorded four saves. The Citadel drops to a 2-2 record while the Buccaneers improve to 5-1.
"It is always disappointing to lose a game," said head coach Bob Winch. "But I can not be unhappy with the way our team performed. I thought we battled and created some great scoring opportunities against a very good CSU team."
The Bulldogs visit Presbyterian on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. in Clinton, S.C.