CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Top-seeded and 14th-ranked UNCG defeated No. 2 seed Samford, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon to win the 2010 Southern Conference Women's Soccer Championship at the Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, N.C.
UNCG earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. The NCAA selection show will air between 4:30 and 5 p.m. ET Monday, Nov. 8 on ESPNU.
UNCG connected on a set piece in the 58th minute, which began with Cat Barnekow taking the short corner and sending a pass to Jenn Partenheimer outside the box on the right edge. Kristen Schmidbauer volleyed Partenheimer's well-placed pass to give the Spartans the only goal they would need on the afternoon.
Scoring opportunities came at a premium for both teams, as each squad recorded just two shots on goal. UNCG held a slight 6-5 advantage in shots overall.
The Spartans' goalkeeper, Kelsey Kearney, was named Tournament Most Outstanding Player after notching her third consecutive shutout of the tournament. Kearney stopped two Samford shots while the Bulldogs' Alyssa Whitehead tallied one save.
The tournament victory is UNCG's seventh in 14 seasons as a member of the Southern Conference. Playing in its ninth tournament final, the Spartans are now 7-1-1 in the title game. UNCG also equaled a school record for wins in a season, improving to 19-1-1 overall.
Samford concludes its season with a 13-6-3 mark.
All-Tournament Team
Vanessa Aponte, The Citadel
Nicole Martinoli, The Citadel
Brittany Hallberg, Elon
Alanna Winsper, Elon
Michelle Moll, Samford
Colette Nammour, Samford
Trine Taule, Samford
Lauren Hein, UNCG
Kelsey Kearney, UNCG
Morgan Kennedy, UNCG
Jenn Partenheimer, UNCG
Tournament Most Outstanding Player - Kelsey Kearney, GK, UNCG