Samford 3, Kentucky 1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Samford University women’s soccer team picked up its biggest victory of the young 2012 season Sunday as the Bulldogs knocked off the Kentucky Wildcats, 3-1, in the championship match of the 2012 Courtyard by Marriott Louisville Airport Cardinal Classic hosted by the University of Louisville.

With Sunday’s triumph, Samford (3-3) concluded the four-team tournament with an unblemished 2-0 record. On Friday, the Bulldogs earned a thrilling 1-0, double-overtime victory over Toledo. Samford also extended its winning streak to three consecutive matches after opening its 2012 campaign with hard-fought losses at Tennessee, Alabama and Auburn.

The Bulldogs’ Kaley Blanton, who scored the golden goal in Friday’s win against Toledo, again proved to be the star Sunday by notching a pair of first-half scores. With her early goals, which were scored in the second and 17th minutes, she improved her total on the season to three.

Blanton’s first score was tallied just 1:14 into Sunday’s match. On the momentum-boosting goal, the Bulldogs’ native of Mandeville, La., fired a high, looping shot from the right side that perfectly found its way over the goalkeeper’s head.

Just 15 minutes later, Samford increased its lead to 2-0 as Blanton registered her third goal in a time span of 16:22, dating back to the final second of Friday’s double-overtime triumph against Toledo. On her second score Sunday, Blanton collected a rebounded shot from the right side and blasted home the goal from seven yards out.

The Wildcats (5-1) trimmed Samford’s lead to 2-1 on a goal from Cailin Harris in the 30th minute of play. The score would remain at 2-1 as the teams entered halftime.

Early in the second half, the Bulldogs’ Brittany Hoffman put the match out of reach as she scored her second goal of the 2012 season. On the score, which was assisted by Lindsey Hansen, Hoffman sliced an arcing shot from the left side of the field that fit perfectly over the outstretched arms of Kentucky’s goalkeeper and found the right side of the net.

After Hoffman’s goal gave Samford its decisive 3-1 lead, the Bulldogs cruised for the remainder of the second half and claimed the championship title of the 2012 Courtyard by Marriott Louisville Airport Cardinal Classic.

For their efforts, Samford’s Jessica Perry, Shanika Thomas, Katie Danehy and Blanton were all named to the all-tournament team.

Sunday’s loss was Kentucky’s first of the season. The Wildcats opened their 2012 campaign with home victories against Coastal Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, UNCG and Southeast Missouri before toppling the 12th-ranked Louisville Cardinals on Friday, 2-0.

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs welcome the Kennesaw State Owls to the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.

 

The Citadel 5, Northern Iowa 0

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Four different Bulldogs recorded goals, including career-first scores from freshmen Kimberly Maldonado and Jannel Johnson, as The Citadel’s women's soccer team downed Northern Iowa 5-0 on Washington Light Infantry Field on Sunday.

The win was the Bulldogs' first of the season, improving their record to 1-4-0.

Mariana Garcia continued to rewrite The Citadel’s record book and her impressive 2012 campaign, adding two more goals, giving her four on the season and moving her into a tie for second all-time in Citadel history. The Bogota, Colombia, native is just seven shy of the record set by Kelly Pesterfield.

Garcia notched the game's first score in the 27th minute when she collected a pass from Johnson and lobbed a 25-yard shot over the head of the Northern Iowa goalkeeper, Erin Zaideman.

Just over two minutes later, The Citadel would find the back of the net again as Jillian Meyer fired a rocket from 40 yards out that deflected off the head of a Panther defender and past Zaideman.

Bulldog goalkeeper Sarah Katchen staved off a Panther surge at the end of the first half to keep the 2-0 shutout intact, as Northern Iowa fired six shots in the final 15 minutes of the first frame.

The Citadel attack proved to be too much in the second half. Garcia posted her second goal of the game in the 59th minute when Johnson pushed a perfect pass to Garcia, resulting in a breakaway score to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. The assist was Johnson's second of the game and the first two of her career.

The final two scores of the game would come from newcomers Maldonado and Johnson. Maldonado's goal was assisted by junior Ruth Leiva, who now has four for her career, moving her into sixth all-time in program history.

Vanessa Aponte led the Bulldogs with six shots as The Citadel outshot the Panthers 16-11. Aponte now has 150 career shots, leaving her just 15 shy of the school record. Garcia is currently in third all-time with 134.

The Citadel will hit the road for two previously postponed games from the beginning of the season as it takes on Winthrop on Wednesday and Charleston Southern on Sept. 17.

 

UNCG 1, High Point 0

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore Ashley Stokes tallied the game-winning goal in the 67th minute to help UNCG women’s soccer down visiting High Point 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.

The Spartans controlled most of the possession for the contest and broke through in the 67th minute as redshirt junior Katie Durst made a terrific through ball to Stokes, who scored the eventual game winner.

Freshman goalkeeper Jamie Simmons earned her second shutout of the season after collecting five saves to preserve the victory.

In the first half, UNCG and High Point played to a scoreless draw with the Spartans outshooting their opponents 13-2. The Panthers’ two shots were both from inside the box, but Simmons came up large to keep the game even.

In the closing seconds of the first half, UNCG came close to tallying a goal as senior Lauren Hein flicked one toward the net, but the High Point defense cleared the ball off the line to end the half.

In the second half, the Spartans continued the pressure as they attempted four shots within the first 10 minutes.

High Point had an opportunity for the equalizer in the 81st minute as Becca Hemby headed one toward the goal, but Simmons made a diving save to keep UNCG in the lead.

Freshman forward Chesney White finished with a career-high eight shots, including four on goal to pace the Spartans.

The Blue and Gold finished the game with 20 shots, including 10 on goal and nine corner kicks to finish a perfect 3-0 against nonconference teams from the state of North Carolina. The Spartans also improved to 3-0 all-time against High Point.

UNCG returns to action next weekend to take part in the Santa Clara Invitational in Santa Clara, Calif., where they will face host Santa Clara and Stanford.

 

Western Carolina 1, Tennessee Tech 0

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Katie Weigel’s goal off a corner kick by Laura Greb gave Western Carolina’s women’s soccer team a 1-0 win over Tennessee Tech on Sunday at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

It took until the 76th minute of the match for Western Carolina (3-3) to finally find the back of the net and secure the win. Senior forward Greb had the corner kick on the right side of the goal and sailed it into the top of the box, where Weigel was waiting. Weigel bounced the ball off her knee and past Tennessee Tech goalie Jordan Brown into the right side.

Greb’s assist was her second of the season.

Both teams found shots at a premium in the match with nine shots by the Catamounts and just four by Tennessee Tech (2-5-1).

Early in the first half, Western Carolina had a golden opportunity when Tennessee Tech was called for a foul about 10 yards out. Senior midfielder Samantha Hodge, who was 1-for-1 in penalty kicks in her career, got the call for the spot kick, but the ball pinged off the left side of the goal post and rolled out.

It was the first shutout of the season for the Catamounts and for Western Carolina goalie Katie Jacobs. Of the four shots taken by the Golden Eagles, Jacobs picked up two saves.

Western Carolina improved to 2-0 in home matches this season and has won three of its last four matches.

The Catamounts are set to host the Catamount Classic Tournament on Friday and Sunday. Western Carolina will host Gardner-Webb at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Campbell at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

 

Davidson 0, North Florida 0 (2OT)

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson closed out a two-game homestand on Sunday by earning a 0-0 draw in double-overtime against visiting North Florida in the Wildcats’ first matchup against the Ospreys in women’s soccer at Alumni Stadium.

Davidson (1-3-2) also picked up a 1-1 tie against Clemson on Friday night.

The Wildcats held a 20-8 edge in shots, putting five of them on goal. They also had 11 corners to UNF’s six. Stephanie Piperno fired off six of the shots, putting two of them on goal, while Becca Fisher had five shots total. Piperno came into the weekend ranked fourth in shots in the Southern Conference and added 12 for the weekend.

Rachel Locke stopped three shots in earning her second tie of the season, while Brittany Hahn of North Florida (2-5-1) had five saves.

Davidson squares off against cross-county rival Charlotte on the road in a 7 p.m. contest Thursday. The Wildcats then travel to William & Mary on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tilt.

 

Campbell 1, Elon 0

WILMINGTON, N.C. –The Elon University women’s soccer team dropped its final game of the UNCW Courtyard Marriott Invitational on Sunday, falling 1-0 to the Campbell Fighting Camels.

Elon had several opportunities in the match, as the Phoenix outshot the Fighting Camels 10-5 and claimed a 3-1 edge in corners.

Campbell took an early 1-0 advantage when Melissa Messier scored on a through ball played by Ashley Hartert in the sixth minute.

Elon trailed by one goal at intermission despite outshooting the Fighting Camels, 5-1, in the opening stanza.

Kimmie Krauss nearly tied it at 1-1 in the 55th minute, but Campbell goalie Ryann Torrero made the save to keep the Fighting Camels ahead.

Angela Funari came close to tying the match again in the 65th minute off of a Taylor Glenn corner, but her shot was blocked by the Fighting Camels defense inside the box to hold off the Phoenix.

Funari and Chelsey Stark led Elon with two shots apiece.

Kate Murphy and Shannon Cosgrove split time between the posts for Elon, each totaling 45 minutes and a save.

Caroline O’Dee was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts on the weekend.

Elon’s next game is scheduled for Friday at High Point.

 

Georgia State 3, Georgia Southern 2

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern’s women’s soccer team fell from the ranks of the unbeaten on Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 loss to Georgia State at Eagle Field. The visitors went out to a 2-0 lead in the first 21 minutes, but goals in the 28th and 61st minute leveled the score at 2-2. State recorded the game-winning goal in the 85th minute.

With overtime looming, Georgia State produced the game-winner as Whitney Ravan crossed the ball to Lyndsey Gaffney near the top of the penalty area. A touch to calm the ball preceded the scoring shot, which gave the Panthers a 3-2 victory.

With the loss, Southern fell to 4-1-2 on the year, while the Panthers improve to 3-3-0 in the 2012 campaign.

Georgia State’s Nikki Fedele opened the scoring in the 20th minute when she got on the end of a Jewel Evans cross in the penalty area for a header goal. The Panthers doubled the advantage just a minute later when Alyssia Feronti scored on a penalty kick to make the score 2-0.

The Eagles didn’t wait long for an answer, as Sydnie Van Curen found the back of the net in the 28th minute. The Eagle build up included a shot by Nora El-Shami that was saved by the Georgia State keeper. The rebound came to Alex Murphy, who dished the ball one-touch to Van Curen in space to score the goal and cut the lead to 2-1.

Just 15 minutes after the halftime break, the Eagles scored the equalizer from Stephanie Gratto. A free kick by Abbey Ritter from near the boundary line found the head of Gratto in the box, allowing the freshman to score her second goal of the season.

The Eagles outshot the Panthers 24-15 overall with Georgia Southern goalkeeper Katie Merson making five saves on the afternoon.

Southern is back in action on Friday afternoon at Charleston Southern. The contest from North Charleston, S.C., begins at 4 p.m.

 

Eastern Kentucky 3, College of Charleston 1

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston women’s soccer team fell 3-1 to Eastern Kentucky in the final game of the College of Charleston Cup at Patriots Point on Sunday afternoon. For the second consecutive game, the Cougars scored first but couldn’t protect their lead in taking a loss.

CofC started the match strong and scored right away on a sixth-minute mark by Sarah Cardamone, her second of the season. Maryam Buazza ignited the play by slotting a ball through the middle of the Colonel defense, and Cardamone took it in stride and slid the ball past the charging keeper.

Just under three minutes later, though, Nikki Donnelly made a long run up the middle third of the field and ripped a shot over the head of Taylor Avery from just outside the 18-yard box to equalize the match.

Donnelly found the net a second time in the 29th minute after Taylor Perkins had her shot stifled in the box and Donnelly collected the rebound and scored.

EKU added the insurance goal in the 66th minute when Dani Cant found some space along the right side and ripped a shot from inside 10 yards that Avery blocked away. The rebound went to Kaylynn Brown, who headed it back into the net.

The Cougars outshot the Colonels, 12-11, but only put two shots on target. EKU put eight of its 11 attempts on frame.

Avery made five saves on the day for the Cougars.

CofC takes to the road next weekend with a battle at Jacksonville on Friday with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.

 

UNC Asheville 4, Wofford 0

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Wofford women’s soccer team was defeated by UNC Asheville 4-0 Sunday afternoon. Wofford fell to 4-2-0 on the year, while the Bulldogs improved to 2-5-0.

The Bulldogs took the early lead when Ferriss Roberts assisted on Kaitlyn Eckert’s headed goal in the fourth minute. UNC Asheville would double its lead in the 27th minute when Bulldog goalie Heather Muller played a ball to Amanda Knapp, who was able to score past Terrier keeper Kara Boggs in the bottom right corner.

The Bulldogs took a two-goal lead into the locker room. Wofford took one more shot (8-7) but UNC Asheville dominated corners, taking six to Wofford’s zero.

UNC Asheville would start the second half just like the first, scoring in just the fourth minute. Kelsey Palmer crossed the ball into a crowded box, where Paige Trent was able to reach the ball and head it past Boggs. The Bulldogs would add a fourth goal in the 55th minute when Kaitlyn Eckert’s corner was headed in by Shenny Lenhart.

Kimberly Cohn replaced Boggs in goal for the Terriers in the 71st minute.

The game would end 4-0 despite the Terriers outshooting the Bulldogs 21-16. UNC Asheville held the edge in corners (7-3) and saves made (7-4).

Boggs took the loss for the Terriers to fall to 2-1 on the season. She allowed all four Bulldog goals and made three saves on 11 shots. Cohn recorded one save on five shots faced.

Muller earned the win for UNCA and improved to 2-5 for the year. She made seven saves on 21 shots faced.

The Terriers return to action on Thursday when they host the Spartans of USC Upstate. The game is set to kick off at 6 p.m. at Snyder Field.