Oct. 18, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's soccer team could not take advantage of its scoring opportunities and near misses, falling to the Furman Lady Paladins, 3-0, Tuesday night in a match which had been rescheduled from two weeks ago when record-breaking rains forced its postponement.

Western dropped just its fourth match of the season, falling to 12-4-0 overall and 3-3-0 in the Southern Conference. Furman improved to 10-5-1 on the year, 5-1-1 in league play.

The Lady Paladins had an early scoring opportunity in the second minute as the Andre'a Morrison got behind the Catamount defense, but her point blank shot was saved by Western Carolina goalkeeper, junior Alesha Row. In the 34th minute, Furman again tested the Catamount keeper as Nicky Darling flicked a header on net, but Row easily made the save, one of her four on the night.

Furman did manage to get on the board three minutes later, at the 37:34 mark, when a Western defender attempted to head the ball back to Row, but Morrison beat the keeper to the ball. Her first touch lifted the ball over the sliding goalkeeper and rolled into the back of the net to give Furman the early lead, which they would carry into the intermission.

Four minutes into the second stanza, Western Carolina looked to have an equalizer as senior Natalie Turgeon headed a shot on goal, but Furman goalkeeper Andie Hinshaw made diving save at the far post. The Catamounts nearly scored again when Hinshaw misplayed a pass, but sophomore Keevy Harris' shot was just wide of the far post for the second near-miss of the half.

Furman pushed across an insurance goal at the 68:00 mark as Tara Marker scored a Darling pass at the top of the box. Marker took a touch and placed her shot to the right, just out of the reach of the Row.

The Lady Paladins scored their third goal of the match at the 79:59 mark as Anna Betton played a ball to Julie Einstein in the middle of the field. Einstein then sent a through ball to Kaylan Pedine who had managed to slip behind the WCU defense. Her sliding shot was slotted past Row and was just inside the near post.

Western Carolina nearly broke up the shutout in the 87th minute as Turgeon's through ball found junior Tammy Jones unmarked in the box. Hinshaw made a sliding save of Jones' shot to prevent the goal and keep her clean sheet.

Western was out shot 13-to-6 in the loss, including a 6-to-1 deficit in the first half. The Cats did, however, earn a 2-to-1 edge in corner kicks, one in each half. Leading the way for Western with two shots apiece were Jones and Turgeon, three of which were on goal. Harris and her classmate Meghan Reilly each fired shots for the Catamounts in the losing effort.

The Catamounts hit the road on Friday, traveling to the coast of South Carolina to face the College of Charleston at 7:00 pm at Patriot's Point. Western returns home to the Catamount Athletic Complex next Sunday, Oct. 23, to host Chattanooga in Southern Conference action. Following the match on the 23rd, the WCU players and coaches will host a youth soccer clinic on the field which will be free to all youth who arrive at the game prior to halftime and get their hand stamped. Kid arriving after halftime will be charged a $2.00 fee for the clinic.