Box Score Sept. 17, 2006
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. - Junior Lauren Atkinson scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute to complete a strong second half in Western Carolina's come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex.
Following a Bulldog foul about 10 yards outside the box to the right of the goal, sophomore Arlan Whittle played the ball on a set piece to the lower right side of the box to Atkinson where she turned with the ball and uncorked a shot from the right that found the lower left corner of the cage for the score.
The win, which evened Western's seasonal record at 4-4, was the second-straight and fourth in its last five on the season. Gardner-Webb (6-2) lost for just the second time this season, both coming against Southern Conference opponents. Sunday's match was delayed nearly two hours due to travel problems Gardner-Webb encountered en route to Cullowhee.
Gardner-Webb took the early advantage, scoring 26 minutes into the first half off its lone corner kick opportunity. Bulldog freshman Sarah Keyser served the corner kick into a crowded box in front of the Catamount goal where her classmate, Franchesca Formagie, headed it past WCU freshman keeper, Kelly Gulledge, who appeared to be shielded from making the stop by the mass of players.
Out of intermission, Western turned up the offensive intensity, accounting for six unanswered shots before GWU sent one towards the Catamount goal. WCU's increased pressure finally paid off in the 67th minute. Junior Rebekah Mumm, who made her first career start on the afternoon, played give-and-go with Dittmer just outside the box. Dittmer juked past one Bulldog defender, but her shot attempt was deflected. Freshman Bri Cunningham gathered the rebound and fired on goal, bouncing it off the near-side post. Both Cunningham and Dittmer collapsed to the center off the post shot with Cunningham dropping the loose ball past the Bulldog keeper for the game-tying score.
The match appeared to be headed for overtime before Atkinson's heroics led the Catamounts to the victory, keeping Western Carolina's record perfect against Gardner-Webb (4-0 all-time).
Gulledge made her second-straight start between the pipes for Western, recording both of the Catamount saves on the day with one goal allowed. Senior Alesha Row entered the game at the start of the second half but was not challenged by any of Gardner-Webb's five second half shots.
Western out shot GWU 15-to-12, including a 9-to-5 edge in the second half. The Catamounts also earned eight corner kick opportunities with six coming in the second half alone.
Western returns to action on Friday, Sept. 22, when it visits Francis Marion in Florence, S.C., for a 4:00 pm non-conference match.
