Furman 1, Chattanooga 0
Greenville, S.C. -- Rachel Shelnutt netted her seventh goal of the season and Jessica Smith recorded her fifth shutout as Furman blanked Chattanooga, 1-0, in Southern Conference women's soccer action on Thursday evening at Stone Stadium.
With the win, Furman improved to 8-3-2 overall and remained unbeaten in league play at 3-0-2. The Mocs fell to 3-10-0 overall and 1-4-0 in the SoCon.
After being held scoreless in the first half despite a 10-3 advantage in shot attempts, Furman broke through at the 48:39 mark. Shelnutt, who leads the SoCon with 20 total points, flicked a long ball from Graham Marchman towards the middle of the box and unleashed a left-footed volley that found the right side of the net for her league-leading fourth match-winner of the season.
"We created a lot of chances tonight and kept putting balls on frame before finally finding the back of the net," said Furman head coach Andrew Burr. "The girls played hard and did what they needed to do to stay unbeaten in the SoCon."
The Paladins pressured the Chattanooga defense for much of the match compiling a 25-7 edge in shots and 14-4 advantage in shots on goal, but Mocs goalkeeper Taylor Mangrum delivered several sprawling saves to keep her club within striking distance. Mangrum finished the match with 13 saves.
Smith, a junior from Franklin, Tenn., stopped four shots in net for Furman to register her fifth clean sheet of the season and stretch her streak of allowing one of fewer goals to 12 matches. Her diving save at the right post denied Chattanooga's Becca Smith an equalizing goal in the 54th minute.
The Paladins return to action when they travel to Birmingham, Ala., on Sunday to face the Samford Bulldogs in a Southern Conference showdown. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET.
Chattanooga hosts Wofford Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
Samford 1, Wofford 0
Spartanburg, S.C. - Wofford challenged conference foe Samford Thursday night. At the end of regulation, Samford took home their third win in a row, beating the Terriers 1-0. Wofford drops to a 5-4-3 record, with a 0-2-3 standing in the SoCon. The win puts Samford at a 7-5-1 record overall and a 3-2 record in the SoCon.
Trine Taule scored the lone goal for the Bulldogs in the 20th minute of the game, taking advantage of a crossed in ball from teammate Hilary Samuels. Samuels placed the ball in the 18-yard box, and Taule pushed the ball in off her head. Taule has accounted for four goals on the year for Samford.
Freshman goalkeeper Kimberly Cohn had a strong performance despite the loss, tallying 10 saves in the match. Her play kept the Terriers at only a one goal deficit for the match.
Coach Kiah's program will travel to Chattanooga this Sunday, October 10th to challenge the Mocs at 2 p.m. while Samford returns home to entertain Furman Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.