Davidson 1, Charlotte 0 (2OT)
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Sophomore Jenni Isaac gave the Wildcat faithful a joyous ending Sunday evening with a game-winning goal in the 103rd minute to push Davidson past cross-county rival Charlotte 1-0 at Alumni Stadium in women’s soccer.
The game-winner helped the Wildcats (1-5-3) snap a four-game skid and earn their first triumph of 2013. They also earned a third straight result, and second win in a row, against the 49ers (5-3) after taking a 1-0 win on the road last year. Prior to that, the teams played to a 1-1 tie at Alumni Stadium in 2011.
After neither team did much in the first overtime, Davidson pressed the 49er defense and Isaac found an opening in the second overtime.
Gathering in a loose ball in 49er territory, the sophomore turned, dribbled and fired a shot just outside the 18-yard box to the near post that slipped just enough through the hands of Charlotte’s keeper to cross the end line for her first collegiate goal.
Rachel Locke earned her fourth shutout of the year, stopping four shots. The 49ers’ Alex Kubrick finished five saves.
The shot count went to Davidson, 15-10, while it also had a 4-2 edge on corners.
The ‘Cats hit the road to open Southern Conference play next weekend, with games at Chattanooga and Samford, Oct. 4 & 6.
Furman 2, Jacksonville 1 (OT)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Furman netted an own goal just one minute into the first overtime period to claim a 2-1 victory over the Jacksonville Dolphins in nonconference women’s soccer action on Sunday afternoon at Southern Oaks Stadium.
The win extended Furman’s unbeaten run to five matches and improved the Paladins to 5-2-1 on the season. Jacksonville fell to 5-4-0.
In the opening minute of the overtime period, Kristen Baker whipped in a line drive cross toward Jamie Alexander at the top of the 6-yard box. A Jacksonville defender attempted to clear the cross, but she deflected the ball behind her and it slipped into the corner for the deciding goal.
After Jacksonville totaled seven shots in the opening 30 minutes, the Dolphins managed to grab the lead at the 30:09 mark as Kaitlyn Bassett headed in a Miranda Fyfe cross for her first goal of the season.
The Paladins began to apply the pressure to JU in the second half and broke through with the equalizer with just 11:59 to play on sophomore Stephanie DeVita’s sixth goal of the season. India Robinson served a cross into the box that DeVita nodded past JU goalkeeper Sarah Sierra. The assist for Robinson was her league-leading eighth of the season and seventh in the Paladins’ last four matches.
Furman finished with an 18-15 edge in shot attempts and 9-3 advantage in shots on goal. Sophomores Rose Hull and Maggie Grisell each tallied a save for Furman with Grisell earning the win. Sierra stopped seven shots for the Dolphins.
Furman returns home for a pair of games next weekend. The Paladins will open Southern Conference play hosting The Citadel on Friday at 8 p.m. before entertaining Francis Marion on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Elon 1, VCU 1 (2OT)
RICHMOND, Va. – A late penalty kick in the second half Sunday lifted the Elon University women's soccer team to a 1-1 draw versus VCU on the road.
Trailing 1-0 with less than 10 minutes to play, the Phoenix drew a penalty kick after the Rams fouled the Maroon and Gold in the box. Elon senior forward Simi Dhaliwal didn't disappoint, drilling the PK into the back of the net for the score to tie the match at 1-all.
The two teams went scoreless for the remainder of regulation and two overtimes.
Elon's record moved to 5-1-2 with the draw, while VCU went to 5-4-1.
Maren Johansen put the Rams up 1-0 in the 35th minute after scoring from the center of the box off a previous Kate Murphy save.
The Rams carried a one-goal lead into the half after claiming a 10-1 advantage in shots, putting four on target.
After Dhaliwal's penalty-kick score in the 80th minute, the two teams could not break the tie in overtime. The Rams put three shots on-frame in the second OT, but Murphy corralled every VCU strike. Murphy ended the match with 11 saves.
Chelsey Stark nearly gave Elon the golden goal in OT, but her strike hit off the crossbar.
The Rams finished the game with a 25-10 advantage in shots and a 7-5 edge in corners.
Elon hosts Western Carolina on Thursday at Rudd Field in its Southern Conference opener.
Morehead State 2, Appalachian State 1 (OT)
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State fell to the Morehead State Eagles on Sunday afternoon 2-1 in overtime.
The Mountaineers (3-4-0) got things started early with a goal from Samantha Childress in the 16th minute. Julia Holz crossed a beautiful ball from the far side into the box, where Childress was able to put a one-time strike on it to give Appalachian State a 1-0 advantage.
The Mountaineers would head to the locker room with the 1-0 advantage and a strong offensive showing. Appalachian State took eight shots to the Eagles’ two, with four of its eight shots being on target. The back line for Appalachian did a superb job in not allowing any legitimate opportunities and were helped by the midfielderss coming back in support.
The game would remain 1-0 Mountaineers until late in the second half. The Eagles (1-7-1) were able to put one past Mountaineer starting keeper Amy Kolowsky in the 83rd minute of the game. Elizabeth McSparin was able to settle a throw-in from Jade Flory to give the Eagles the equalizer.
The match would remain 1-1 and head into overtime. In the first overtime, Flory received a pass from Angela Black and was able to break through the defense at the top of the box and tally the golden goal to give Morehead State the victory in the 95th minute.
Appalachian State outshot Morehead 13-11. Kolowsky made four saves and allowed two goals in only her second start of the season.
The Mountaineers will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Greensboro, N.C., to challenge UNCG. The match will be the first conference action this season for Appalachian State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Mercer 3, Georgia Southern 2
MACON, Ga. – The Georgia Southern women's soccer team battled it out with Mercer on Sunday night at the Bears’ home field, dropping a 3-2 result.
The Eagles were without starting goalkeeper Heather Kirkover. Senior midfielder Alanna Rudd was drafted to play between the pipes for Georgia Southern as Rudd made her first collegiate appearance in goal.
The Eagles came out strong scoring two goals in the first half. Freshman Jennifer Wittick lofted a shot over the keeper's head, securing the first goal of the evening just before the 18 minute mark.
Abria Allen put the Eagles up 2-0 on 29 minutes with a volley shot off an assist by senior Alex Murphy.
The Bears quickly retaliated, scoring at 33 minutes and again at 37 minutes, leaving the score tied 2-2 at the half.
Mercer Bears scored the game-winning goal at 46 minutes, barely slipping it by Rudd. She tallied 11 saves in her first time in goal. That tally ties for seventh-most in program history.
The Eagles continued to compete throughout the second half but were unable to tie up the game.
Georgia Southern opens SoCon play this Friday with a trip to Samford. The Eagles continue the weekend on the road with a Sunday match against Chattanooga.