Chattanooga 3, The Citadel 2

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Despite being outshot 36-15, the Chattanooga women's soccer team came away with a 3-2 win over The Citadel on Sunday afternoon for its first win in Southern Conference action this season. Mariana Garcia posted her third two-goal performance of the season en route to breaking The Citadel's all-time career goals mark with 29, while Chattanooga senior Kelsey Swann scored her first two goals of the season.

The Mocs moved to 3-10-1 overall and 1-7-0 in league play. The Bulldogs dropped to 4-10-1 overall and 2-5-1 against the SoCon.

The Citadel got on the board early, scoring in the 17th minute. Chattanooga freshman keeper Lauren Thomas made a save on a shot from Vanessa Aponte but was unable to pull the ball away and Garcia, second in the league in scoring, had the put-back to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead on her 11th goal.

That would be all the scoring from The Citadel for quite a while as Chattanooga stepped up its offense to tie it up before halftime then come on in the second half to take the lead for good.

In the 43rd minute, sophomore Crystal Mackezyk had a shot blocked, but it was picked up by freshman Loryn Queen, who crossed a pass to Swann. Swann drilled it home for her first goal of the year to knot it up 1-1. The score would stand into the intermission.

In the second half, Swann and Queen paired up again to give the Mocs the lead for good. Queen's pass was right to Swann and the senior knocked the shot into the top left corner of the net from 15 yards out to put UTC up 2-1 at the 64:18 mark of the game.

What would prove to be the game-winner came just seconds later when senior Becca Smith connected on a penalty kick at the 64:39 mark of the game to give Chattanooga a 3-1 lead.

In the 84th minute, the Bulldogs cut the Mocs’ lead to 3-2. Aponte sent a direct kick toward the goal. It was picked up on the head of Garcia, who knocked home her 12th goal of the season. The Bulldogs took four more shots in the remaining minutes with two saves by Thomas and the other two shots blocked.

Chattanooga will return home to close out the season with a three-game homestand beginning with Elon on Friday at 7 p.m. at Finley Stadium. The Citadel will return to action Friday at Appalachian State at 7 p.m.

 

Samford 1, College of Charleston 0

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The first-place Samford women’s soccer team remained undefeated in Southern Conference play this season Sunday as the Bulldogs registered a 1-0 road victory against the College of Charleston Cougars at Patriots Point. The match served as the Cougars’ Senior Day and commemorated their six seniors.

Samford (9-5-2, 6-0-2 SoCon), which extended its undefeated streak against conference opponents to 21 consecutive matches, used a second-half goal from junior Michelle Moll to post its 1-0 road victory. Moll’s goal was scored in the 57th minute of play as the Bulldogs outshot the Cougars, 8-6.

Sophomore goalkeeper Melissa Montgomery notched her second straight shutout Sunday and recorded her third of the 2012 campaign. The Bulldogs’ native of Georgetown, Texas, finished with three saves against College of Charleston (4-10-1, 3-4-1 SoCon).

With Samford’s triumph, the Bulldogs improved their all-time record against the Cougars to 5-1-2. Last season, Samford tallied a pair of wins against College of Charleston, including a similar 1-0 victory in the championship match of the SoCon Tournament.

At exactly 56:19 into Sunday’s contest, Moll gathered a pass from sophomore Brittany Hoffman and found the back of the net for her fourth goal of the 2012 season. On the play, Samford’s Hoffman was awarded with her second assist of the year.

The Bulldogs’ defense once again turned in a brilliant performance Sunday. Samford’s shutout was its fourth of the season and third in SoCon play. So far this year, the Bulldogs are outscoring their conference counterparts by a total of 18-7.

Keeper Taylor Avery made two saves for the Cougars.

As part of Senior Day, the Cougars commemorated Haley Hutchens, Katie Kerr, Toni Schneider, Emilie Huser, Maryam Buazza and Sarah Schaidle.

Samford will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs play host to the UNCG Spartans for yet another critical SoCon match to be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.

Friday’s contest will be highlighted by the Bulldogs’ annual Senior Night festivities. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as Samford’s senior class consisting of Sabbath McKiernan-Allen, Kaley Blanton and Mancino will be honored with a special presentation.

The Cougars return to action next weekend with a pair of matches in the mountains of North Carolina. CofC opens the weekend at Western Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m. and close with Appalachian State on Sunday at 2 p.m.

 

UNCG 1, Georgia Southern 0

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman Katherine Rodriguez tapped in the game-winning goal in the 54th minute to propel UNCG women’s soccer to a 1-0 win against Georgia Southern on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.

With the victory, the Spartans improved to a season-best 9-6-1 overall and a 6-1-1 record in the SoCon. The Eagles fell to 6-6-4 with a 2-5-1 mark in the SoCon. UNCG picked up its third-straight shutout, all of which have been 1-0 victories.

UNCG took the lead in the 54th minute when senior Lauren Hein found a streaking Cat Barnekow, who set up a perfect pass to Rodriguez inside the box for a one-touch goal. It was the first goal of the season for Rodriguez and gave Barnekow her second-straight game-winning assist.

Freshman goalkeeper Jamie Simmons picked up her fifth shutout of the season after collecting two saves. Simmons has pushed her streak of minutes without giving up a goal to a season-high 319:20.

The Spartans played to a scoreless first half after leading 4-2 in shots and took four corner kicks. UNCG had a chance when freshman Chesney White fired a shot on goal, but Katie Merson made the save in the 28th minute.

In the second half, UNCG continued to play flawless defense, allowing just three shots from Georgia Southern.

The Eagles had an opportunity to tie the game in the 72nd minute, but Alex Murphy’s header went just wide.

UNCG played the final 15 minutes with one more player as GSU’s Carlee Storey received a red card in the 76th minute.

The Spartans finished the game with six shots and five corner kicks.

UNCG travels on the road to face SoCon-leading Samford on at 8 p.m. Eastern in Birmingham, Ala. The Eagles face Furman on Friday at 7 p.m.

 

Furman 1, Appalachian State 0

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Fifth-year senior Martha Hall, playing in her final regular-season home match, scored in the seventh minute, and Furman’s defense blanked Appalachian State as the Paladins notched a 1-0 victory over the Mountaineers in Southern Conference women’s soccer action on Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium.

The victory improved the Paladins to 11-3-2 overall and 4-2-2 in SoCon play, while Appalachian State slipped to 8-6-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the league.

Hall, Furman’s lone senior, wasted little time putting her stamp on Senior Day.  The Knoxville, Tenn., native took a pass from Caitlin Shelton on the left side of the box, took two touches toward the middle of the field and curled a shot into the upper left-hand corner at 6:23 for the eventual match-winning goal.  The 20-yard strike marked her 32nd career goal, moving her into a tie for sixth on Furman’s career charts, and her 15th career match-winning tally.

Furman managed a 12-10 edge in shot attempts, and the Paladins’ defense held the Mountaineers to just three shots on goal.

Freshman forward Samantha Childress led the Mountaineers with four shots, while Julia Holz followed with three.

Appalachian State controlled much of the possession in the final half hour and won four second-half corner kicks, but Furman goalkeeper Rose Hull notched her fifth clean sheet and the team’s eighth shutout of the season with three saves.

Megan Roberson stopped three shots in the loss for Appalachian State.

Appalachian State was held scoreless for the first time since its season opener against Clemson on Aug. 17.

The victory helped Furman close out its 2012 regular season home schedule with a 9-1-1 record.

The Paladins travel to Statesboro, Ga., to face Georgia Southern on Friday, before concluding the regular season with road trips to Davidson and Wofford. The Mountaineers return to the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex on Friday as they finish the season with three straight home matches, beginning with The Citadel. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

 

Elon 0, Davidson 0 (2OT)

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s soccer team recorded its second shutout of the weekend on Sunday at Rudd Field after battling the Davidson Wildcats to a scoreless draw.

Elon’s record moved to 5-6-6 (3-1-4 Southern Conference) while Davidson went to 6-7-3 (4-3-1 Southern Conference).

Elon goalie Kate Murphy earned the decision in goal, going 65 minutes and finishing with eight saves. Shannon Cosgrove earned the starting nod for the Phoenix, playing the first 45 minutes and tallying two saves.

Murphy saved the game for Elon with 10 seconds remaining in the second period when she corralled a great header by Davidson’s Rachel Newmister to keep the match scoreless in regulation. Murphy made another great save on a shot by the Wildcats’ Julia Singley in the 99th minute, as well, to keep the match going.

The Wildcats registered a total of 17 shots in the game, including 10 on target. Davidson keeper Rachel Locke earned her fifth shutout of the season, second-most in the league. She had to stop just one shot as the Wildcat defense held Elon to just three shots overall.

Davidson also had a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.

The team celebrated Senior Day prior to today’s match, honoring the careers of Cosgrove, Jaclyn Wood, Claire O’Keeffe and Shannon Foley. O’Keeffe made her 76th career start Sunday, extending her own program record. The shutout also marked the 26th during her four-year career.

Elon returns to action on Friday in Chattanooga, Tenn., when it takes on the UTC Lady Mocs at 7 p.m. The Wildcats come home for their final two home contests of the season at Alumni Stadium. They will host Wofford on Friday at 7 p.m., honoring their four seniors for Senior Night. The ‘Cats close out the 2012 home slate of games against Furman on Sunday at 2 p.m.

 

Wofford 1, Western Carolina 1 (2OT)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chloe Brackett scored her first career goal to lead the Wofford women’s soccer team to a 1-1 double-overtime tie  against Western Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

After the draw, the Terriers now stand at 6-7-2 and 1-5-2 in SoCon play.  The Catamounts’ record sits at 6-8-2 and 2-4-2 in the conference.

Wofford opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Brackett scored to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead.  A cross was sent into the box that Western Carolina failed to clear, and the ball fell to Brackett, who was able to beat Catamount goalkeeper Jennifer Lauer from five yards out.

Western Carolina nearly tied the game in the 43rd minute, but Christine Kaznowski’s attempt from 10 yards skied over the crossbar.

The half would end with Wofford holding onto a 1-0 lead.  The Terriers outshot the Catamounts (7-2) and held the edge in corners taken (6-1).

In the second half, the Catamounts would make a change in goal, with Katie Jacobs replacing Jennifer Lauer. Lauer gave up one goal and made three saves on seven shots faced.

Western Carolina would score in 52nd minute to tie the game at 1. Laura Greb sent a low cross in front of the goal and Markie-Lynn Studnicky was able to slide and poke it past Wofford goalie Kimberly Cohn at the far post. It was Studnicky’s seventh goal of the season.

Neither team would threaten again in regulation. Heading into overtime, Wofford still held the edge in shots (10-4) and corners (7-1).

In the first period of extra time, Greb had a great opportunity to win the game for the Catamounts, but she sent her shot high from five yards away. Neither team was able to create a good scoring chance in the second overtime, and the game would end in a 1-1 draw.

Overall, Wofford held the edge in shots (13-8) and corners (8-3), but it was not enough to separate the teams.

Cohn earned the draw to push her record to 0-3-2 this season.  She recorded two saves on eight shots.  Jacobs was credited with the tie and her record now sits at 4-4-1 for the year.  She did not make a save on six shots in 65 minutes of action.

Wofford’s next game is Friday, when they travel to North Carolina to face the Wildcats of Davidson.  The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. Western Carolina returns home on Friday to host College of Charleston for a 7 p.m. kickoff.