Oct. 31, 2007

Final Stats

Spartanburg, S.C. - Western Carolina's women's soccer team closed out the regular season in grand fashion Wednesday evening, using a late second-half goal to defeat Wofford, 1-0. Bri Cunningham's header in the 76th minute was the game-winner for the Catamounts, and her fourth goal on the year, good for the team lead. Cunningham took a crossing pass from teammate Nikki Collins and placed her header just behind the Wofford goalkeeper for the game's only score.

After the scoreless first half, WCU came out in the second frame and dominated the offensive play. In addition to the goal, they also out shot the Terriers 7-2 to end the match with a 10-8 shot advantage. The Catamounts also had two close calls in the first 20 minutes of the half, when shots by Heather Dittmer and Lauren Atkinson were just barely turned away by the Wofford goalkeeper.

Freshman Caitlin Williams had four saves on the night to record her sixth shut out for the season, which moved her into second place in the Western Carolina record books for most shut outs in a season. The blank slate also helped Williams' goals against average to remain under one goal a game for the season, one of only three goalkeepers in the Southern Conference to hold that distinction.

Collins' assist was her second on the year, and it helped Cunningham not only take the team lead in goals, but with her career-high ninth point, she now sits in a tie for first place in points on the year with Atkinson.

With the win, the Catamounts move to 9-8-2 for the season, and keep Head Coach Tammy DeCesare perfect in ending the regular season with a winning record. This year is the third time in the three years that Coach DeCesare has been at Western that the team finished above .500.

They also pull back even in the SoCon at 4-4-2, clinching fifth place in the final conference standings, and will face the fourth-seeded team this Sunday in the first round of the SoCon Tournament. Pairings will be announced by the league office Thursday evening after the conclusion of all conference play that night.

Check back to catamountsports.com for all the updates as the Catamounts look to continue their winnings ways in the postseason, and make a run for the 2007 Southern Conference Tournament title.