Appalachian State 1, Georgia Southern 0

BOONE, N.C. – Sophomore forward Julia Holz’s goal in the eighth minute was all Appalachian State’s women’s soccer team needed as the Mountaineers earned their second conference victory of the season over Georgia Southern 1-0 Friday night at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.

Battling injuries to starters Jenna Caudle and Sam Neill and key reserve player Kate Ward, the Apps improved their record to an even 5-5 overall mark and 2-1 in Southern Conference play. GSU falls to 5-3-3 overall and 1-2 in the league.

The Mountaineers did not waste much time getting on the scoreboard as senior midfielder Hannah Coad slipped a pass through the GSU defenders to the feet of Holz. Holz was able to get a touch before chipping in the shot over the head of a diving Georgia Southern goalkeeper Katie Merson. For the sophomore, it was her fourth goal of the season, propelling the forward to the team’s scoring lead.

After the goal, Appalachian’s defense shined for the entire opening half, allowing Georgia Southern to fire off just three shots for the first 45 minutes.

The defense continued the pressure in the second half, claiming its third clean sheet of the season. Freshman goalkeeper Megan Roberson tallied three saves on the night as the Eagles took just seven shots for the match.

App State was on the attacking end for most of the match, getting off 15 shots as four came on goal. Holz led the team with two shots on goal, while freshman defender Merlin Beckwith and freshman forward Samantha Childress each troubled Merson once.

Appalachian State’s focus now shifts to Davidson, a team the Mountaineers lost to in 2011, 3-0. If the Mountaineers earn a victory over the Wildcats, it will be the first time Appalachian has defeated both GSU and Davidson in the same season since 2009. Kickoff against the Wildcats from the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex is set for 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Eagles close out the month of September on Sunday with a 2 p.m. contest against Western Carolina before facing College of Charleston on Thursday to close the current road swing.

 

Davidson 2, Western Carolina 0

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Senior Rachael Newmister and sophomore Julia Singley scored six minutes apart in the first half and Davidson’s defense took care of the rest, playing shutout ball in a 2-0 triumph on the road over Western Carolina in Southern Conference women’s soccer action Friday night.

The win helped the Wildcats move to 2-1 in SoCon action and increase their overall record to 4-5-2. They gave WCU (5-5-1, 1-1-1 SoCon) its first defeat in league action this year.

Newmister tallied her second goal of the season when she struck at the 26:52 mark, firing a shot into the left side of the net for a 1-0 Wildcat lead. It was the senior’s 10th career goal as she took over the team-lead in points with six (two goals, two assists).

Davidson added one more insurance goal just into the start of the 33rd minute off the foot of Singley. The sophomore took a pass from fellow sophomore Becca Fisher right in front of the goal and booted the ball into the back of the net for her second score of the season.

Goalkeeper Rachel Locke and her defensive mates took care of the rest, earning Davidson’s fifth shutout of the season. Locke closed with a pair of saves as she improved to 3-4-2 between the pipes.

Davidson held Western Carolina to just two shots on goal all evening. The Wildcats had 8-1 and 10-6 advantages in corner kicks and shots, respectively.

Redshirt senior Samantha Hodge had Western Carolina’s best scoring chances in the second half when she had to great looks at the goal back-to-back. Hodge, at the 79:57 minute, took the corner kick from fellow senior Laura Greb and drew off the Wildcat goalie but the ball was wide. She came back and took the rebound high and attempted a header that was also wide.

The ‘Cats remain on the road and take a trip to Boone, N.C., to face Appalachian State at 2 p.m. Sunday. Western Carolina will try to rebound on Sunday when it hosts Georgia Southern at 2 p.m. at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

 

UNCG 2, College of Charleston 1 (OT)

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman forward Chesney White scored the golden goal in the 93rd minute to help UNCG’s women's soccer team take down College of Charleston, 2-1, Friday night at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.

With the victory, the Spartans improved to 5-6 overall and a 2-1 record in the SoCon. The Cougars fell to 3-7 with a 2-1 mark in the SoCon.

White received a perfect flick pass off the head of teammate Lauren Hein to set up the breakaway then beat the CofC keeper one-on-one. It was White's team-leading fourth goal.

In the first half, UNCG took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute after sophomore Ashley Stokes lined a corner kick to the head of freshman Zoe Fishman, who headed home her second goal of the season.

The Cougars would respond at the 33rd minute when Sarah Cardamone collected a ball inside the box off of a corner kick and fired home the equalizer to tie the game at 1-1. Cardamone scored her team-high third goal of the season when she headed home a corner sent in by Maryam Buazza.

The teams battled in the second half looking for the game-winning strike but neither was successful. In the 48th minute, UNCG had an attempt on goal, but the College of Charleston defense was able to clear the ball off the line.

Just 10 minutes later, Hein put on a point-blank header, but Cougars keeper Eli Sarasola made the save.

The Cougars’ best opportunity came with just four minutes remaining as Michaela Herrmann had a breakaway chance, but freshman keeper Jamie Simmons made the save of the night, denying the shot on goal.

The Spartans finished the game with 12 shots, including seven on frame, outshooting their opponents in the contest.

UNCG remains home to face The Citadel on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. The Cougars stay on the road and return to action on Sunday with another conference rival in Elon. The Cougars and Phoenix are set to kick off at 2 p.m.

 

Elon 1, The Citadel 1 (2OT)

ELON, N.C. – Despite a combined 41 shots, including 21 on goal, the Elon University women’s soccer team battled The Citadel Bulldogs to a 1-1 draw on Friday night at Rudd Field.

Elon’s score came courtesy of Jennifer McGorty in the 56th minute, as the junior landed a strike from about 20 yards out over The Citadel’s Sarah Katchen for the score to give the Phoenix (2-6-4, 0-1-2 Southern Conference) a 1-0 lead. Katie Boyle and Kimmie Krauss picked up the double assist for Elon.

The Bulldogs (3-6-1, 1-1-1 SoCon) answered in the 64th minute when Nicole Levermann landed a header in the back right corner of the goal past a diving Kate Murphy for the equalizer. Levermann's second goal of the season came off a perfectly dropped pass into the box by Anastasia Mesa, who posted her team-leading fifth of the season and sixth of her career, moving her into a tie for third place in Citadel history.

The Citadel ended the match with a 21-20 edge in total shots, including an 11-10 advantage in shots on-goal. The Phoenix outshot the Bulldogs 16-11 in the second period and two overtime periods.

Phoenix goalie Murphy played all 110 minutes and totaled 10 saves. Murphy and the Elon defense stifled the Bulldogs on several occasions in the match, holding The Citadel to just one score.

Olivia Mackey nearly gave the Phoenix a one-goal lead in the 74th minute off a free kick, but the Bulldogs’ Katchen made a great save to keep the match knotted at 1-1.

Shannon Foley created issues for the Bulldogs in the box all night long, heading several corners that just missed or were saved. Elon finished the match with a 7-3 advantage in corners.

The Phoenix returns to Rudd Field on Sunday at 2 p.m. when it hosts College of Charleston. The Bulldogs will also take the field on Sunday at 2 p.m., as they face off against UNCG in Greensboro, N.C., in hopes of nabbing their first win against the Spartans in program history.