Sept. 29, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Using a pair of unassisted goals - one in each half - the Furman Lady Paladins survived a second half barrage to escape with a 2-0 shutout victory over home standing Western Carolina Friday night at the Catamount Athletic Complex in a match that pitted the two finalists of last year's Southern Conference Championship.

Although the final tally on shots read even, 11-11, Western boasted an 8-to-2 advantage in corner kicks, including a 7-to-1 edge in the second stanza. Yet, the Lady Paladin defense managed to clear the ball multiple times to keep WCU off the board.

Furman (4-6-0, 2-0-0 SoCon) jumped out on top in the tenth minute of the match utilizing a perfectly placed free kick off a Western foul. Junior Gena Villari was on target from 25 yards outside the box, beating Catamount senior keeper Alesha Row to the upper right corner of the cage.

In the second half, Villari made a bid for a second long goal in the 53rd minute, uncorking a shot from over 30 yards out that Row made a one handed lasso save on, keeping the Catamounts within one.

Five minutes later, inside the 58th minute, Western had one of its best flurries of the night unleashing back-to-back shots by freshmen Nikki Lombardo and Shanna Schmoker with each being deflected by the Furman defense. The ball bounced loose between several players before finally being cleared out where a third rookie, Jenny Matteson, drilled a shot that had to be deflected over the cross bar by the Lady Paladin keeper, Briana da Mota, to keep WCU off the board.

Furman surged ahead to a two-goal advantage in the 79th minute capitalizing on a Western defensive miscue. FU's Chelsea McKie played a ball into the offensive zone that the Catamounts seemed to have controlled. However, the defense turned the ball over and an opportunistic Rachel Fry gathered the bouncing ball, making a run on goal and firing a shot to the left of the outstretched hands of Row for the 2-0 lead.

Western continued the pressure down the stretch in the second half, but Furman was up to the challenge keeping the Catamounts off the board.

Junior Heather Dittmer and red-shirt freshman Rachael Shomper each fired two shots apiece in the loss as nine Catamounts tallied offerings. Row made five saves in the match, suffering her fifth defeat of the season. Villari led Furman with three shots on net as eight Lady Paladins recorded shots.

Western Carolina hits the road for three-straight contests beginning this Sunday, Oct. 1 visiting SoCon preseason favorite, UNC Greensboro at 2:00 pm.