GREENVILLE, S.C. - Freshman Stephanie DeVita and junior Dee Makris each tallied second-half goals to lead Furman to a 2-0 victory over the University of North Florida in the women's soccer regular-season opener for both schools before a crowd of 2,292 on Friday evening at Stone Soccer Stadium.
After a scoreless first half in which Furman fashioned a 6-0 edge in shot attempts, DeVita opened the scoring by dribbling across the top of the box and lining a shot that slipped through the hands of UNF keeper Rachel Beninati and into the back of the net from 25 yards out at the 60:34 mark.
With less than nine minutes remaining, Furman won a free kick almost 30 yards out directly in front of goal. Hannah Stanifer placed a shot to the right-hand side that Beninati pushed off of the right post, but Makris tapped in the rebound to double to Paladin lead at 81:30.
Freshman Rose Hull notched the shutout in her first collegiate game, recording one save on the night. Furman held a 13-6 edge in shot attempts, including a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal. The Paladin defense thwarted the Osprey attack on multiple occasions in the final minutes as UNF earned six second-half corner kicks but attempted just one shot on goal.
Furman (1-0-0) returns to action on Sunday afternoon when it travels to Athens, Ga., to face the Georgia Bulldogs. Kickoff at Turner Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
Wofford 1, Gardner-Webb 0
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Wofford women's soccer team opened the season with a 1-0 win Friday over Gardner-Webb University at Synder Field. Sophomore Maureen Buff scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute to break a scoreless tie. The Terriers improved to 1-0-0 on the season, while the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to 0-1-0.
Buff was able to control the ball and avoid several GWU defenders. She then fired a shot from 25 yards away that curved past the goalkeeper into the top right corner of the net. The goal was the breakthrough Wofford was looking for as it tallied 23 shots to Gardner-Webb's five.
Wofford recorded 16 shots in the first half and regularly tested the Runnin' Bulldog defense. The Terriers also held the edge in corners (7-2).
Chelsea Ashworth kept the shutout intact with a goal line block in the 17th minute off a Gardner-Webb corner kick, one of only five scoring chances Gardner-Webb was able to create.
Erika Christensen earned the win while only facing five shots. Amy Schmitt got the loss despite recording eight saves on 23 shots.
Wofford will return to action on Friday, Aug. 24, when it hosts the Trojans of Troy. The match is set to kick off at 6 p.m.
Georgia 1, UNCG 0 (2OT)
ATHENS, Ga. - After 104 scoreless minutes, Georgia buried a game-winning penalty kick in double overtime to defeat the UNCG women's soccer team, 1-0, in front of a crowd of 1,838 on Friday night at the UGA Soccer Stadium.
UNCG freshman goalkeeper Jamie Simmons finished the game with 14 saves in her collegiate debut.
Just three minutes into the second overtime, UGA made a run down the field and crossed a ball inside the box that was inadvertently touched by a Spartan defender to set up a penalty kick for the Bulldogs. All-SEC performer junior Alexa Newfield wasted no time and scored the golden goal into the lower left corner of the net.
UNCG was hanging time with the Bulldogs, keeping the game scoreless through two halves and overtime.
In the second half, Simmons came up large on a number of occasions with seven saves. With 14 seconds remaining in regulation, a ball was crossed inside the box that Georgia freshman Andie Fontanetta headed to goal, but Simmons made the game-saving stop.
The Spartans' best chance came with two minutes left in the second half as redshirt senior Cat Barnekow took a free kick that UNCG could not convert on an open net after Bulldog keeper Ashley Baker missed the save.
The Spartans and Bulldogs played to a scoreless first half after UGA led 8-1 in shots. Simmons was stellar between the pipes, making four saves to keep the game tied.
Sophomore midfielder Ashley Stokes had the first shot on net in the 17th minute for the Spartans.
Just before the half in the 45th minute, UGA had another opportunity to break the tie as Susannah Dennis took a shot, but Simmons turned away the effort.
The Blue and Gold are now 9-14 in regular-season openers.
UNCG returns to action next Friday, Aug. 24, as it heads to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face ACC power Wake Forest at 7 p.m.
Elon 1, Cincinnati 1
ELON, N.C. - The Elon University women's soccer team opened its 2012 season on Friday night with a 1-1 draw versus the Cincinnati Bearcats at Rudd Field.
After a UC goal in the 12th minute, Elon sophomore forward Marissa Russo hit the equalizer in the 48th minute after blasting a shot under a diving Kristina Utley for the score.
Elon nearly took the lead in the final 10 minutes of regulation on a pair of great strikes by Nicole Dennion and Chelsey Stark, but just missed and the game went to extra time.
Catherine Brinkman, Elon's leading scorer a year ago, played in goal for the first time in her career in the draw. Brinkman registered three saves in 120 minutes between the posts.
Elon and UC both move to 0-0-1 with the draw.
The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute after Laura Rose took advantage of a nearly empty net and ripped a shot 20 yards away after Brinkman ran up to challenge.
But the Phoenix battled back early in the second half after Russo blasted a shot by Utley for the score in the 48th minute. Rookie Samantha Burch earned the assist for Elon.
Elon nearly took the lead in the waning moments of regulation, as Dennion's shot was snagged by a diving Utley to prevent the score in the 82nd minute. Three minutes later, Stark let loose on a shot near the right post, but just missed wide.
Elon held possession for most of overtime, but neither squad could score the golden goal.
The Phoenix held a 10-9 advantage in shots and a 7-1 edge in corners.
Liberty 1, Davidson 0
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Liberty's Crystal Elmers deflected a cross with her right foot in the box for the only score of the evening, spoiling Davidson's season opener at home in a 1-0 decision on Friday at Alumni Stadium in nonconference women's soccer action.
After Davidson got off the first couple of shots of the game, Liberty struck at the 37:58 mark. Lauren Stell crossed a ball from the far side of the field into the box and Elmers raised up with her foot and deflected the pass to the top right corner for her first collegiate goal.
Davidson had seven shots on the evening, with four of them coming on goal. Rachel Locke and Renae Cairns split time between the pipes, with Locke picking up three saves.
Davidson remains at home and will host Tennessee Tech next Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. It will be the first matchup for both teams against each other.
Clemson 1, Appalachian State 0
CLEMSON, S.C. - Appalachian State University's women's soccer could not capitalize on its opportunities and fell to ACC opponent Clemson 1-0 Friday night at Historic Riggs Field.
Clemson got on the scoreboard in the 64th minute when a cross from Tabitha Padgett found the head of Allie Kington and the shot beat sophomore keeper Amy Kolowsky to her left, putting the Tigers ahead. The goal deflated the Apps' offense as it could not find another opportunity for the rest of the match.
Clemson outshot the Mountaineers 25-11, as the loss brings App State to 0-1-0 on the season.
Kolowsky stood out with 11 saves for the match. Sophomore forward Jenna Caudle shined in her Appalachian debut, creating many chances and tallying three shots on goal. Sophomore Julia Holz also found chances on the front line, but none of her shots missed the goal, totaling three shots.
The first half was highlighted by Kolowsky, making several key saves to keep the Tigers scoreless, totaling six for the half. The Apps had several chances in the first half, including an early shot from Holz that just snuck by the left upright and out for a goal kick.
With 16 minutes remaining in the first half, Holz took shot that found the back of the net, but she was marked offside, taking the goal off the scoreboard.
The Mountaineers started the second half with a lot of momentum, as Caudle found separation twice, but her shots were stopped by Clemson goalkeeper Hunter Rittgers. Four minutes after Caudle's last attack, Holz found a seam, but her shot went wide.
Clemson's defense was strong for the final 15 minutes, capping off the 1-0 victory.
The Mountaineers will continue their road trip, as they travel to Austin Peay on Friday, Aug. 24. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Tennessee 4, Samford 0
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Samford University soccer team opened its 2012 campaign with a road loss at Tennessee on Friday as the Bulldogs dropped a 4-0 decision against the homestanding Lady Vols at Regal Soccer Stadium.
Tennessee (1-0) competed well for first-year head coach Brian Pensky on Friday and took a 1-0 lead into the half. The Lady Vols' opening goal of the evening was scored by Caroline Brown in the 16th minute of play as she tallied an unassisted goal through the middle of the Samford defense.
At the half, Tennessee outshot the Bulldogs 4-1, but Samford was leading in corner kicks 3-1.
The Lady Vols' Amy Harrison shifted the momentum of Friday's match in the second half of play by scoring a pair of goals in the 53rd and 60th minutes. Her first goal was assisted by both Brown and Iyana Moore, while her second score was solely aided by a rainbow pass from Moore.
Tennessee notched its fourth goal of the evening in the 67th minute as Kylie Bono tallied an unassisted score from the upper right corner of the box.
Samford finished Friday's contest with seven shot attempts and was paced offensively by junior midfielder Jordan Johnson's three shots. The Bulldogs' transfer from Florida State was also responsible for both of Samford's shots on goal.
Jessica Perry, a true freshman, made her first career start in goal and finished with three saves. The Bulldogs' native of Webster Groves, Mo., logged all 90 minutes for Samford.
Samford (0-1), which has never been known to shy away from stiff competition to open a season, will continue its tour of Southeastern Conference teams next week with a road contest at Alabama. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are slated for a 6 p.m. (CDT) matchup to be held at the Alabama Soccer Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Following next week's battle at Alabama, Samford will close out its arduous three-match SEC road stretch at 25th-ranked Auburn on Aug. 31.
Chattanooga 6, Tennessee Temple 0
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga soccer team kicked off its 2012 campaign with a 6-0 win over cross-town foe Tennessee Temple at Finley Stadium on Friday. Freshmen accounted for five of the six goals and six of the seven assists in the win.
Freshman midfielder Hannah Wyatt started off the scoring when she put one over Crusader keeper Jess Salera in the eighth minute. She was the recipient of a feed from fellow freshman Skylar Brewer.
Brewer made it 2-0 with a goal of her own in the 14th minute. She scored off an assist from freshman Clare Latham. The pattern continued in the 34th minute when Latham knocked in a shot from 10 yards out off a feed from Loryn Queen.
Senior Becca Smith closed out the first-half scoring with a bomb from 25 yards off an assist from Logan Higgins in the 39th minute. A preseason All-SoCon selection, Smith now has 76 points in her career. She is second in all-time scoring at UTC, trailing only Diana Jallo's (2002-05) 87 points. Smith is also No. 2 with 31 career goals. Jallo also leads that category with 37.
UTC took a 4-0 lead into the locker room and did not allow Tennessee Temple to take a shot. Despite some determined play from the Crusaders, the Lady Mocs kept the ball in their attacking third for almost all of the first half.
Tennessee Temple did not get off a shot until the 72nd minute when Courtney Born finally got loose near Chattanooga's goal. She took a shot from 15 yards out on the right side that was deflected out of bounds. That led to TTU's only corner kick of the game.
Brewer went on to add her second goal of the game in the 66th minute. She scored from the far post after a nice exchange between senior Lauren Wilson and Wyatt. Queen made it 6-0 in the 88th minute with her goal from freshman Melanie Arredondo.
A total of 18 Lady Mocs saw the field Friday. UTC held a 28-1 shots advantage and had 11 corner kicks to Tennessee Temple's one. Only one card was given in the match, falling to UTC's Crystal Mackezyk in the 75th minute.
Chattanooga is back on the field on Sunday, Aug. 19, hosting Tennessee Tech at Finley Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The Citadel at Charleston Southern ppd.
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Heavy rain and lightning hit hard at Charleston Southern on Friday as the season-opener for The Citadel's women's soccer team was called in the 55th minute with the Bulldogs leading 2-1.
Mariana Garcia posted two goals before the weather struck; however, NCAA rules state that 70 minutes of play must be recorded for the contest to be considered official, so all statistics will be nullified. The game will be replayed from the beginning on Sept. 17 at 3 p.m.
--SoConSports.com--