Furman 2, Mississippi State 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Junior Stephanie DeVita blasted Hannah Stanifer’s cross into the top netting with 52 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Furman to a 2-1 victory over Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi State in women’s soccer action on Thursday night at Stone Soccer Stadium.
The victory, Furman’s second in as many seasons against the Bulldogs, improved the Paladins to 2-1-0 on the season. Mississippi State slipped to 0-3.
With the match knotted at 1-1 and less than one minute remaining in regulation, Stanifer served a cross from the right corner of the box toward the far post. DeVita ran onto the cross and fired her first touch over the head of Bulldog goalkeeper Rhylee DeCrane at the 89:08 mark for her second game-winning tally of 2014.
The winning score, the 36th goal of DeVita’s career, moved her into sole possession of sixth on Furman’s all-time scoring list. It was her 16th career match-winning tally, which boosted her into a tie for second-most in school history.
After a scoreless first half, Furman took the lead at the 55:06 mark on freshman Molly Dwyer’s first career goal. Sophomore Carlie Couch played a cross from the right side to the top of the 6-yard box, and Dwyer volleyed a right-footed shot past the MSU keeper with her first touch to put the Paladins in front.
Mississippi State answered with just 9:57 left in regulation when McKenzie Adams headed a Kayleigh Henry cross into the right corner from the left side of the box to tie the match at 1-1.
Furman’s Rose Hull finished with five saves to earn the victory in goal for the Paladins, while DeCrane totaled seven saves in the loss for the Bulldogs.
The Paladins managed a 23-18 edge in shot attempts, including a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal. The win improved Furman to 23-2-2 in its last 27 matches at Stone Stadium.
Furman returns to action on Friday when it travels to Clinton, S.C., to face Presbyterian. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
ETSU 1, Appalachian State 0 (2OT)
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The ETSU women's soccer team outlasted Appalachian State on Thursday night, 1-0, in double overtime. Junior defender Hannah Short scored the game-winning goal in the 107th minute off an assist from senior Jasmin Dutton.
With the win, ETSU extended its season-opening win streak to three matches.
The Buccaneers (3-0) and Appalachian State traded chances throughout the tightly contested match, with neither defense surrendering a goal during the first 90 minutes of play, forcing the contest into extra time.
ETSU outshot Appalachian State, 6-3, in the two overtime periods; however the Mountaineers (1-1) were within inches of capturing the win when ETSU goalkeeper Jasmine Elliott made a brilliant, diving save in the 93rd minute to keep the match scoreless.
Elliott, who recorded her third career shutout in the win, also made a crucial save early in the match, thwarting a point-black shot attempt by Appalachian State's Jane Cline.
With less than four minutes remaining in the second overtime, an Alexa Passingham pass was deflected by an Appalachian State defender, but Dutton was nearby to gather the ball before finding a darting Short just in front of the goal. Short scored on the first touch out of midair, beating the keeper and burying the game-winning goal into the left side of the net.
Short has now scored goals in each of ETSU's first three matches and leads the Bucs with seven points on the season (3G, 1A). Assisting the game-winning score, Dutton recorded her team-best fifth assist.
The contest kicked off a four-match home stand for the Bucs, who will return to Summers-Taylor Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 31, to host Campbell at 1 p.m.