Sept. 25, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina scored two goals in the final 14 minutes of the contest to defeat Elon, 2-0, in Southern Conference women's soccer action from Rudd Field on Sunday afternoon. The loss dropped the Phoenix to 2-5-2 overall and 0-1-0 in the SoCon while the Catamounts upped their mark to 9-2-0, 1-1-0 in league play.

Statistically speaking, the two teams battled to a near stalemate through the first half of play, with each team credited with three shots apiece. The Cats did hold a slim advantage in corner kick opportunities, 2-1, through the first 45 minutes. However, Western turned things up a notch in the second stanza, outshooting the Phoenix by a total of 11-4 over the final 45 minutes and earning five corner kicks for a final count of 7-4 over Elon.

The increased offensive pressure by the Catamounts paid off when sophomore Bailey Culp headed in a junior Keevy Harris cross in the 77th minute. The goal was the second of the season for Culp, and was Harris' team-leading sixth helper of the year.

After the score, Elon had two shots go just left of the goal in the final four minutes as the Phoenix tried to even the contest. Yet, Western would add an insurance goal during the closing seconds as sophomore Lauren Atkinson tallied her third goal of the season, unassisted at the 89:59 mark.

The second-year player show continued as sophomore Heather Dittmer led the Catamounts with six shots in the contest, while Atkinson fired three and senior Natalie Turgeon getting off a pair of her own. Junior goalkeeper Alesha Row made three stops for WCU and tallied her seventh shutout of the year, a WCU single-season record. Row stands with 11.0 career shutouts, seven from tying Western's all-time leading keeper, Mandi Tinsley (WCU `02).

Western Carolina will have the week off from competition before heading to Spartanburg, S.C., to face SoCon foe, Wofford, for a 2:00 p.m. game next Sunday, Oct. 2.