Sept. 23, 2006

Final Stats

Florence, S.C. - Western Carolina out shot the Francis Marion Patriots 9-to-7 on Friday afternoon but neither team could light the scoreboard after two halves and a pair of overtime sessions as the match ended in a 0-0 scoreless tie. In addition to out shooting FMU, Western also held a 4-to-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The tie was Western's first under second year head coach Tammy DeCesare and the first since a 1-1 stalemate with former Southern Conference member East Tennessee State on Oct. 3, 2004. It was also the third time in WCU's eight-year history that a ended in a scoreless tie. Francis Marion extended its seasonal unbeaten streak to six-consecutive matches.

Earning the shutout for the Catamounts was senior goalkeeper Alesha Row. The Fargo, N.D., native recorded three saves on the afternoon while keeping Francis Marion scoreless. The shutout was the 18th of Row's career, tying her with Mandi Tinsley (1999-02) on Western's all-time career list. Row posted a school-record 13 shutouts last season en route to second-team All-SoCon honors a year ago.

The Catamounts (4-4-1) controlled tempo early in the match maintaining possession in its attacking zone over the first 17 minutes, out shooting the Patriots by three. However, neither team could muster a goal.

Francis Marion (4-3-2) had a pair of scoring opportunities in the 32nd minute following the Patriots' lone corner kick. A Brandi Sutphin header was stopped by the Catamount defense, with the rebound shot by Brittany Rothenbach also deflected by a WCU defender at the mouth of the goal.

Western freshman Bri Cunningham had a strong opportunity to give the Catamounts the lead in the 85th minute when her offering on net was pushed over the cross bar Patriot keeper Jacque Sutphin. Sutphin also denied freshman Nikki Lombardo in the third minute of the second overtime on a point-blank shot from 10 yards out.

Junior Heather Dittmer led the Catamount attack with a match-high three shots, while Lombardo fired a pair as six WCU players recorded shots.

Western returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 26, hosting the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at 7:00 pm at the Catamount Athletic Complex. The match is a part of the newly-founded "Parkway Series," which is a head-to-head competition between WCU and UNCA.