Oct. 23, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - On the strength of two goals by sophomore Lauren Atkinson, the Western Carolina women's soccer team recorded its tenth shutout of the season, blanking the Chattanooga Mocs, 2-0, Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

With the win, Western improves to 14-4-0 overall, 5-3-0 in the Southern Conference, while Chattanooga drops to 8-8-0 overall with an identical, 5-3-0, mark in league play.

Western got on the board midway through the first half. After one of Chattanooga's nine fouls in the game, freshman Arlan Whittle played a free kick on net. In traffic, senior Emily Pierce fired the rebound on goal, but it was deflected by the Moc defense. The scramble concluded as the rebound bounced to Atkinson who corralled the loose ball and put it in the left corner of the net for the score. Pierce was credited with the assist, her second of the season.

Shortly after the tally, Western nearly added its second goal of the game as junior Meghan Reilly won a ball and her shot hit the crossbar and bounced out. Just before the break, the Catamounts had another golden opportunity as Whittle, from her defensive position, dribbled in from midfield and passed a through ball to sophomore Heather Dittmer. However, Dittmer was just a step behind the defender before the ball was sent and was whistled for offsides. The Mocs missed several scoring opportunities as well, but Catamount defense deflected the ball away from the net.

Nine minutes into the second half, Western added its second goal of the afternoon. Senior Casey Davis fed a cross into the box, which was won by Atkinson. She turned and put a shot on goal. Her initial shot was saved by UTC's Stacey Matthiessen, but the rebound bounced out in front and Atkinson found the back of the net with it for her second goal of the match.

Western goal keeper, junior Alesha Row, earned her 10th shutout of the season, stopping seven Mocs shots in the process. Row, who entered the season with four shutouts to her credit, now ranks second on the WCU career charts with 14 scoreless affairs for her career, four behind all-time WCU leader, and former All-SoCon performer, Mandi Tinsley.

Overall, Chattanooga earned a slim advantage in shots, 19-18, after trailing at the break, 7-5. Atkinson led the Catamounts with five shots on the game, followed by senior Natalie Turgeon with three. The Mocs leading scorer, Diana Jallo, led Chattanooga with seven shots on the game, five of which came during the second half of the match.

The Catamounts will return to the Catamount Athletic Complex Sunday, October 30 to take on Davidson at 4:00 pm. As is the custom in the final home game of the regular season, the Catamounts will honor their six seniors on Sunday afternoon. In addition to those activities, Western will entertain a Halloween costume contest for all youth during halftime. Children wearing costumes to the game will be admitted free.