Oct. 20, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina freshman Nikki Collins netted her first career goal at the 89:59 mark to tie the match at two and force overtime. However, the heroics were short-lived as Georgia Southern sophomore Ashley Toussaint tallied her second goal of the match at the 101:38 mark of the second overtime session as the Eagles downed the Catamounts, 3-2, in Southern Conference women's soccer action.

Trailing 2-1 inside the final countdown of regulation, the Eagle defense attempted to clear the ball from in front of their own where Collins gathered in the loose ball and unleashed a shot from 25 yards out from the left side that found the back of the net with one second showing on the regulation clock.

After battling through a scoreless first overtime session in which WCU out shot Georgia Southern 6-to-1, Touissant tallied the game-winning goal a minute and 38 seconds into the second extra session. The Eagles played the ball ahead on the left-hand side where two Catamount defenders converged, as well as freshman goalkeeper Kelly Gulledge. Touissant maneuvered the ball and received a fortuitous bounce that slipped past all three Cats where she fired from 11 yards out for the game winner.

Western (9-6-2, 5-2-1 SoCon) opened the match with high intensity, notching a score inside the first three minutes of play. The Georgia Southern defense turned the ball over inside its defensive third where freshman Shanna Schmoker picked it up and shot from 22 yards into the upper left-hand corner of the net.

The Catamounts maintained their one-goal lead until the 33rd minute. Gulledge cleared the ball out to the right side where Eagle sophomore Susanne Rogers crossed into the box where the ball was deflected by the Western defense. The rebound bounced between two players where Touissant, who was turned sideways to the goal, looped it in the air on net over Gulledge for the tying marker.

After being knotted at one at halftime, Georgia Southern (7-8-1, 5-3-0 SoCon) pulled ahead in the 63rd minute scoring on a header off a corner kick. The Eagles played the ball ahead where WCU sophomore defender Arlan Whittle attempted to clear but the ball was shanked of the side of her foot and rolled over the end line for the corner. Sophomore Holli Finneren's corner kick was headed by an Eagle in the goal box and blocked by a Catamount defender before a second header by junior Jenni Boykin beat the keeper for the 2-1 lead.

Despite a multitude of opportunities throughout the second half, Western needed Collins' last second heroics to send the game into the extra session before falling.

Gulledge suffered her first career loss on the afternoon, recording four saves. GSU's red-shirt freshman keeper, Lauren Santos, earned the win with 10 saves as the Catamounts peppered the Eagle cage with 33 shots in the match, 12 of which were on goal. GSU finished with nine shots including one in each overtime session. The Catamounts also held a 7-3 edge in corner kick opportunities in the loss, its first since Sept. 29.

Western returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 2:00 pm when it visits the Davidson Wildcats.