Box Score Sept. 18, 2005
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Western Carolina senior Casey Davis netted the only goal of the match early in the first half as Western Carolina shut out the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, 1-0, in the Select Kickoff Classic held in Greenville, S.C. The Catamounts won both matches for the weekend after shutting out Eastern Kentucky on Friday afternoon to earn a share of the Select Kickoff Classic Championship with the host Furman Paladins, who were also perfect on the weekend.
The Catamounts (7-1-0) opened the scoring at the 2:34 mark as Davis knocked home a 13-yard shot over the outstretched arms of Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Corinne Razem. Assisting on the tally was sophomore Lauren Atkinson, who earned her second-consecutive starting nod in place of senior Natalie Turgeon, who was injured in the win over UNC Asheville. Turgeon did see action, however, versus GWU on Sunday after missing Friday's date with the Colonels.
For Davis, the score was her team-leading fourth of the season, which gave her a team-high 10 points through the first eight games. The Marietta, Ga., native entered the season with five career goals and a total of 11 points over her first three years as a Catamount, but has nearly doubled that output in helping Western to its best start in the program's history.
In search of a second-half insurance goal, the Catamounts twice hit the post and were unable to find the back of the net resulting in the one-goal victory, Western's third-consecutive over Gardner-Webb (2-4-0).
Catamount goalkeeper, junior Alesha Row recorded her fifth shutout of the season, surpassing her career total of four and moving into second on the WCU all-time career shutout list. Row passed former teammate Tina Weaver, and now stands just nine scoreless outings behind Western's all-time leader, Mandi Tinsley, on the all-time list. Row is also just one shutout shy of tying WCU's single-season record for shutouts, currently standing at six held by Tinsley in the 2001 season.
A big reason for Row's success has been the stellar play of the Catamount defense, which limited Gardner-Webb to two shots for the match, both coming in the first half of play. Anchoring the Catamount's defense are seniors Emily Pierce and Marie Nicolini, as well as underclassmen, sophomore Melissa Berry and Arlan Whittle.
The Catamounts now turn their focus to their Southern Conference opener, in Cullowhee on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Western will host preseason SoCon favorite, UNC Greensboro, at 7:00 pm at the new Catamount Athletic Complex. The Spartans enter Wednesday night's showdown on the heels of a 1-0 loss to #10 Wake Forest and a win over Virginia Tech to visit Cullowhee with a 4-3 overall record.
Three Catamounts Named to the Select Kickoff Classic All-tournament Team
Seniors Emily Pierce and Casey Davis, who scored Western's two goals in the pair of shutout wins over Eastern Kentucky and Gardner-Webb over the weekend, were joined by freshman Arlan Whittle on the Select Kickoff Classic All-tournament team.
For Davis and Pierce, the selection was their second of the season as both earned all-tourney honors at the season-opening Niagara Women's Soccer Classic, with Pierce earning MVP honors. For Whittle, the selection is the first of her career.
