Samford 2, Kennesaw State 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Samford University soccer team extended its undefeated streak to four-consecutive matches Friday as the Bulldogs rallied for a 2-0 victory against the Kennesaw State Owls on the opening day of the 2010 Samford Invitational held at Bulldog Field. Samford's Katie Proud and Paige Lanter both scored goals in the triumph.
"I thought that the first half of tonight's match was very difficult for us," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Kennesaw State did a great job of preventing us from playing the way we like to play, so we didn't get off to the best of starts, but I thought that as the match went on, and we made a few adjustments that we played extremely well, especially in the second half."
With the win, Samford (3-2-1) earned its third straight victory at home. Since opening the season with hard-fought losses at Alabama and No. 18 Memphis, the Bulldogs have bounced back with a draw against Mercer 2-2 and consecutive home victories versus Southern Miss 4-0, UAB 1-0 and Kennesaw State (2-3-1) 2-0.
Kennesaw State fell to 0-2 all-time versus Samford and will square off against Georgia Southern on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (CDT). The Owls' goalkeeper Staci Pugh registered five saves in the loss, while the Bulldogs' starting goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead made a pair of key stops en route to her third straight shutout.
"This was a big win for us," Yelton said. "Kennesaw State is an outstanding team and they've won the Atlantic Sun Conference several years in a row now. They've been the dominant team in that conference, so for us to come out and get a win against them will tell you that we're definitely heading in the right direction."
Proud, Samford's true freshman from Knoxville, Tenn., scored Friday's game-winning goal during the 39th minute of play. The score was assisted by Hilary Samuels and was Proud's second goal of the 2010 campaign.
On the game-winning score, Samuels gained possession wide on the right flank and sent a soaring pass deep into the left side of the box. Proud, the Bulldogs' speedy forward, broke on the pass and one-timed a left-footed shot into the far right corner of the net from 15 yards out. Samuels tallied her third assist of the 2010 season on the goal.
"Katie is extremely quick and that just jumps out at you when you watch her play," said Yelton. "On the goal, she was able to get in behind the defense, Hilary (Samuels) hit a very good ball into her and she was able to put it home. I thought that goal really took a little bit of the weight off of us, because getting the first goal in any match is extremely important, so it put us in a really good position."
Samford outshot Kennesaw State 13-4 on Friday, with six of the shot attempts being on goal. The Owls led in corner kicks, 5-4, but only registered a pair of shots on goal.
"I thought that our back four players were much better in the second half tonight," Yelton said. "Kennesaw State got us stretched a bit in the first half, but our defenders played really well in the second half and limited their chances. Alyssa (Whitehead) is fantastic in goal for us and it's a great feeling to be playing the way we are now after the way we started the season by giving up goals."
The Bulldogs' Lanter added the team's second goal of the night during the 60th minute of play. With the score, her first of the season, she gave Samford its decisive 2-0 victory.
On Lanter's goal, the play was set up by senior Leah Leppert who stole the ball from a Kennesaw State defender and streaked down the left sideline towards the goal. She then slid her way past another Owl defender and sent a pass up ahead to her right side.
True freshman Michelle Moll gathered the pass, moved towards the baseline and fired a quick pass back to Lanter 10 yards in front of the goal. Lanter then collected the ball and sent a laser into the bottom left corner of the net for the score.
The goal was Lanter's fifth of her career and Moll earned her first collegiate assist on the play.
The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 2 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs close out play in the 2010 Samford Invitational against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Bulldog Field.
Furman 2, High Point 0
Columbia, S.C. - Junior Jessica Smith stopped five shots to notch her fourth shutout of the season as Furman blanked High Point 2-0 in the opening game of the 2010 Carolina's Cup on Friday evening at Stone Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
Martha Hall put the Paladins in front in the 14th minute running onto a long ball from Ashley Creavalle and firing past Panthers keeper Andrea Ritchie for her third goal of the season. The goal was Hall's first match-winner of the season and moved her into a tie with Andrea Morrison for fifth on Furman's career list with 11 match-winners.
Freshman Caitlin Shelton put the game out of reach in the 79th minute with her second goal of her career. Irravadee Makris served a corner kick into the box and Megan Zusi flicked a pass into the path of Shelton at 78:50.
Smith earned the win in goal with her fourth shutout in Furman's last five matches. Ritchie took the loss in goal while totaling two saves.
The Panthers held a 10-9 edge in shots with Furman posting a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The win improved Furman to 4-2-0 on the season while High Point fell to 1-5-0.
The Panthers face Clemson in Sunday's final round of the Carolinas' Cup at noon. Furman will battle nationally-ranked South Carolina in the finale at 2:30 p.m.
The Citadel 4, Alabama State 0
Orangeburg, S.C. - The Citadel Soccer earned its first shutout of the season in a 4-0 rout of Alabama State during the Bulldog Sleep Inn Classic hosted by South Carolina State.
The Bulldogs outshot the Hornets 16-4 as four different Cadets tallied goals. Freshman Mariana Garcia set the tone with the first goal of the match on the assist from junior Amy Loughran at the 23:56 mark. Keeping the momentum freshman Jillian Meyer registered her first career goal on a pass from junior Hannah Warne in the 30th minute of play. A minute later Loughran found the back of the net on a connection from Meyer for the Bulldogs' 3-0 lead going into the half.
All three Bulldog goalkeepers saw action during the match. In the first half of play junior Laura Serafino finished with one save from 45 minutes of play. Junior Whitney Nave started the second period and also registered one save with over 29 minutes played while freshman Cassie Palmacci ended the match.
Alabama State returned in the second period with a tighter defense, however they were unable to hold The Citadel scoreless as freshman Taylor Viana linked up with classmate Jaslene Thiara for the final score with 10 minutes left.
"Although the field affected our play, we were still able to finish in the final third of field, maintain a shutout and get a result," commented Loughran on the Bulldogs performance after playing on a turf field.
The Citadel will wrap up the tournament on Sunday, Sept. 12 in Orangeburg, S.C. at 11 a.m when they face Lipscomb.
Davidson 3, Presbyterian 0
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Freshman Deprise Brazel (San Diego, Calif.) netted her first two career goals and the Davidson defense took care of the rest, earning their third shutout with a 3-0 blanking of Presbyterian in the first game of the College of Charleston Tournament on Friday evening in women's soccer action.
Davidson snapped a two-game skid to run its record to 3-3, while Presbyterian fell to 1-4-1. The three goals were a season-high for the 'Cats, who were held to single goals in two of their last three games.
Joining Brazel in the scoring column was junior Stepanie Gerow (Houston, Texas), who tallied the first score of the game on her first goal of the season and later added an assist, while senior Allison Drutchas (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and Rachael Newmister (Clover, S.C.) each added an assist.
Sixteen minutes into the start of the game, Gerow gave the Wildcats the early 1-0 lead off a corner kick. Drutchas lined up and sent the ball into the six-yard box, where it was headed by Newmister towards the net. The shot was then deflected to Gerow who placed it in the back of the net for her fifth career goal. Newmister, in her first game of the season after missing the first five, earned her second career assist.
Brazel padded the Wildcats' lead in the 23rd minute when she gathered in a loose ball off of Gerow¹s initial shot and then a save by the Hose¹s goalkeeper, but the keeper could not handle the ball and Brazel kicked one through for her first collegiate goal and a 2-0 Wildcat lead.
The freshman capped off her outstanding night with a breakaway goal, ripping one from 25 yards out at the 53:25 mark of the second half for the final score of 3-0.
Led by the goalkeeping of juniors Jessie Baxa (Bloomfield, Mich.) and Christy Carry (Dallas, Texas) and freshman Ranae Carins (Ballston Spa, N.Y.), the defense played shutout ball the rest of the way for the team¹s third shutout through the first six games. Carins made her first appearance of the season and recorded her first collegiate save. Baxa finished with four saves, while Carry added one.
Davidson held advantages in shots (20-10) and corners (6-3) during the game. Newmister had a game-high five shots, putting two of them on goal.
The Wildcats conclude the College of Charleston Tournament on Sunday when they play for the first time, Big Ten-foe Iowa at 12 p.m.
UNCG 2, Charlotte 1
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Sophomore Jessi Gulledge's first career goal proved to be the game-winner as UNCG topped Charlotte on Friday, 2-1.
With the scored tied at 1 early in the second half, UNCG's Cat Barnekow rocketed a shot off the left post. Gulledge was there to pounce on the rebound, putting it away past Charlotte keeper Alex Kubrick - Gulledge's high school teammate at nearby Ragsdale High - in the 56th minute.
"Coming off a disappointing weekend, we wanted it really bad this weekend," Gulledge said. "Coming off the bench, I had to be focused and in the game at all times. There was a shot from the left side and I just followed it up and was hoping to get on the end of it to finish it off. And I did."
UNCG's defense did the rest, keeping a clean slate the rest of the way as the Spartans improved to 4-1-1 on the season.
Charlotte falls to 3-2-0 with the loss.
Sophomore Lauren Hein got the scoring started, finishing in the 11th minute to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead. Freshman Stine Schoening got the play started with a cross from the right wing, and Jaimey Etten touched it back to Hein. Hein stepped up and buried the shot from 20 yards out for her second goal of the season.
The 49ers answered in the 34th minute, taking advantage of a UNCG defensive miscue to pull level. After a failed Spartan clear, Sam Huecker headed the ball forward to a streaking Whitney Weinraub. UNCG keeper Kelsey Kearney was caught in no man's land, and Weinraub poked it past a drawn-out, charging Kearney.
"The effort was tremendous," UNCG coach Eddie Radwanski said. "The fact that we got out of the gate and we took the lead - we kind of made a mistake and they were able to even it up. But the sign of a good team is we were able to come back and get another goal and finish the game. When you have good games like this, sometimes you have to battle and dig down, and the girls showed great perseverance and character to get the win."
Charlotte had nearly gotten on the board in just the sixth minute, as Megan Minnix got a head on Huecker's corner kick and put it on frame. A UNCG defender was there to clear the ball, however, keeping the game scoreless.
The 49ers outshot the Spartans 13-7 in the contest, and corner kicks were even at four apiece.
Kearney made six saves to pick up the win in goal, while Kubrick made one save and took the loss.
The win continues one of the best starts in school history for UNCG, which is now one of just five squads in school history to have just one loss through its first six contests. The last team to do that was the 1997 edition, which opened the season 7-1 en route to a school-record 19 wins.
The Spartans return to action on Sunday, Sept. 19, when they host Old Dominion in their final nonconference game of the season. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at UNCG Soccer Stadium. Admission is free.
Iowa 2, College of Charleston 0
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston women's soccer team fell, 2-0, in its first match of the College of Charleston Tournament to Iowa at Patriots Point on Friday evening.
The Cougars (2-4-0) played the Hawkeyes (5-1-0) evenly but were unable to get on the scoring sheet in the game. The win extended the Hawkeyes' winning streak to five games.
CofC outshot Iowa, 13-12, and forced Hawkeye goalkeeper Emily Moran to make four saves. Katie Tate (Piedmont, S.C.) went the distance in goal for the Cougars and registered two saves of her own.
"Iowa is a great team and all credit goes to those guys for coming in here and playing a tough match," said head coach Christian Michner. "I told their coach I think that's the best team we've played all season. On the other side of it, I think that's the best we've played all season too."
The Cougars controlled the early pace but the Hawkeyes deflated CofC's attack when they scored on the first shot of the game in the eighth minute. Jade Grimm controlled the ball in the box near the goal line and slipped a pass back to a charging Alyssa Cosnek who one-touched the ball past a diving Tate.
Cosnek threatened again moments later when she made a long run through the left center of the field. She connected with a streaking Dana Dalrymple who ripped a shot but Tate rose to the attack with a brilliant one-handed save.
The goal fueled the Hawkeyes' momentum and they spent the majority of the remaining first-half minutes on the attack.
In roughly the 25th minute, the Cougars upped the aggression and returned the match into their offensive third of the field. CofC produced several quality chances down the stretch in the first half.
The Cougars actually controlled a 6-4 shot advantage going into the intermission but still trailed on the scoreboard, 1-0.
The second half was highly physical and played mostly in the middle third of the field. The teams exchanged runs and attacks but neither team could solve the opposition's keeper.
The Hawkeyes countered a CofC scoring opportunity in the 80th minute to create a four-on-three odd-man rush the other way. Iowa used some creative passing to get through the Cougar defense until Leah DeMoss was able to boot the ball into the net to extend the Hawkeye lead to 2-0.
The late goal thwarted CofC's attempt to even the match. The Cougars did rally a few more late chances but to no avail.
The Cougars will play one more match in the College of Charleston Tournament against Presbyterian on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 3 p.m.
"We had some great things come out of it and we defended well but we took another one on the chin," said Michner. "A couple of lapses defensively and we gave up two goals just like that. Honestly, I'm happy with where my team is. We're taking steps forward and it was certainly an even game."
Gardner-Webb 1, Chattanooga 0
Boiling Springs, N.C. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's soccer team fell 1-0 to Gardner-Webb on Day One of the Border Classic in Boiling Springs, N.C., Friday evening.
The Bulldogs' Meagan Reynolds scored in the first minute of the game off a corner kick and that goal would stand as the game winner as neither team was able to find the net over the next 89 minutes.
"We were caught off guard on that one," UTC head coach J.D. Kyzer said. "We came out sluggish in the first half and we just weren't ready."
Chattanooga freshman keeper Taylor Mangrum (Franklin, Tenn.) nabbed three saves on the next four shots before sophomore Taylor Davidson (Ooltewah, Tenn.) stepped in to take over duties in the net for the remainder of the game.
"We're very fortunate to have two very capable keepers," Kyzer said. "But they're like field players. You have to change them up from time-to-time."
The Lady Mocs played a much stronger second half getting off nine shots to the Bulldogs' seven. The game was fairly even in the box score with UTC edging Gardner-Webb 14-13 on shots taken and GWU holding an 8-7 advantage on corner kicks. Davidson grabbed three saves in her 61:49 in goal and junior Donna-Kay (Queens Village, N.Y.) led all players with five shots. Lauren Wilson (Columbia, Tenn.) had three shots and Kelly Downs (Hixson, Tenn.) had two with each recording a shot on goal.
"We're a young team, when you think about it," Kyzer said. "Last week was a very precise attack [by Alabama] and this week it's long ball - a totally different game. We didn't adjust fast enough to how they played. We had a lot of one-on-ones with their keeper."
Gardner-Webb's keeper Chelsea Hearne had two saves with a third credited to the team.
The Lady Mocs will take on Kyzer's alma mater, now USC Upstate, on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at the official website of UTC athletics, www.GoMocs.com.
Air Force 2, Western Carolina 1
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's soccer (2-3) freshman midfielder Christine Kaznowski scored her fourth goal of the season, with 35 seconds left in the match, but the Catamounts couldn't mount a final comeback, falling to Air Force (4-2-1) 2-1 Friday at the Catamount Soccer Complex.
Kaznowski hit a shot inside the box that sailed into the back of the net in the waning seconds of the match. She has scored in four of the first five matches of the season.
"Christine always seems to find herself in the right spot," said Head Coach Chad Miller. "The positive for the team is we fought through the match and got a goal."
The Catamounts had chances early in the match, with quick shots by Laura Greb and Katie Weigel in the first four minutes. Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Williams fended off an early charge by Air Force, when it was awarded a penalty kick at the 7:37 mark. Krystin Shanklin's shot went wide on the PK, and was followed by a shot by Sophia Lockerby that also went wide.
"We really didn't capitalize on the chances we had in the match," Miller said. "If we could have used the chances we had early in the game, I think it would have changed the complexity of the game."
Air Force took the lead before the end of the first half. Kaleigh Moses scored from five yards out off an assist by Stephanie Patterson and Bridgett Murphy. At 7:32, in the second half, Air Force scored what would turn out to be the game-winner off an unassisted goal by Leah Bratt.
Western Carolina out-shot Air Force 10-11. The Catamounts Williams had six saves in the match and gave up two goals. Air Force goalie Kelly Stambaugh had five saves and gave up one goal.
The Catamount's match with Air Force was the second of the night in the Catamount Classic. Earlier in the evening Xavier, Western Carolina's opponent on Sunday, defeated Mercer 2-0.
The Catamount Classic concludes beginning at noon with Mercer taking on Air Force and then closes with the Catamounts taking on Xavier at 2:30 p.m.
Tennessee Tech 2, Georgia Southern 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Georgia Southern kept Tennessee Tech scoreless in the first half, but a pair of second half goals gave the Golden Eagles (2-4-0) a 2-0 victory over the Eagles (2-3-0) in the first round of the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, Ala., Friday (September 10).
Freshman goalkeeper Katie Merson (Albuquerque, N.M.) made five saves in the match, but wasn't able to keep the clean sheet as Kris Cambron broke through in the 58th minute for her second goal of the season. Her goal, assisted by Brooke Mayo, gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead with just over 30 minutes remaining in the match.
The Golden Eagles found the net again when Jacquie Watkins sent the ball in to Taylor Hicks who found the top-right corner of the net in the 68th minute. The Eagles continued to attack offensively, but couldn't break down the Panther defense.
Georgia Southern will wrap up play at the Samford Invitational against Kennesaw State on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 12:30 p.m. EDT.
Coastal Carolina 1, Appalachian State 0
BOONE, N.C.- Coastal Carolina was able to endure the physical style of play posed by Appalachian State tonight and come away with a 1-0 victory over the hosting Mountaineers. With the win the Chanticleers improve to 3-4-0 on the season. The Mountaineers fall to 2-3-0 with the loss.
Tonight's win was the second in three games for the Chants and also the second win over a Southern Conference member institution this season.
The lone goal of the game came from the foot of freshman midfielder Kate Wilkinson. In the 85th minute of the contest Wilkinson was able to track down a loose ball inside the keeper's box that Maggie McGavin had fired off the crossbar. Wilkinson was then able to turn and fire the ball past Appalachian State's keeper and into the back of the net. The goal was the first of the freshman's young career.
The shutout was the first on the season by the Chants and the first shutout win for head coach Tammy DeCesare in her Coastal Carolina career. Senior Amy Haggard, who drew her first start of the season in goal tonight, recorded three key saves that kept the Chanticleers in the game at a 0-0 score. All three of Haggard's saves came in the second half with under 20 minutes to play in the game.
Appalachian State has now been shutout in back-to-back games.
Coastal conquered Appalachian State in every offensive category; including a nine to four edge in shots, a six to three advantage in shots on goal, and out cornering the Mountaineers three to one.
The Chants were the aggressors throughout the game as Appalachian State was unable to mount an offensive attack until well over the majority of the first half had elapsed. In the first half alone, Coastal was able to take a 2-0 advantage in corners and a 3-1 lead in shots.
"Tonight was a great team win," said DeCeasre. "The team went out on the field tonight and set the tone and maintained that same level of play throughout the full 90 minutes.
"This win helped to show the growth and development of this young team. It was great to see the team come together out there and really start to develop a great chemistry with one another."
Wilkinson and fellow freshman Christina Stern led the charge for the Chants as both recorded two shot on the evening with both being on goal. Sophomores Cami Skladany and Morgan Thomas each contributed shots on goal in the contest.
The Chants will have nearly an entire week to prepare to take on Atlantic Coast Conference member Clemson next Friday, September 17. Kick off for the game is set for 7 p.m. at Riggs Field in Clemson, S.C.