Oct. 12, 2008

Final Stats |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's soccer team used a game-winning goal from junior Bri Cunningham to beat the Elon Phoenix 2-1, in overtime, on Sunday afternoon. The Catamounts improves to 8-6 overall and 5-1 in the Southern Conference after the win while Elon drops to 6-5-2 and 2-3-1 in the SoCon after the loss.

The Catamounts only needed three minutes and 48 seconds overtime to provide the game-winning goal thanks Cunningham, who beat the Elon Phoenix goalie Sydney Little for the 2-1 win. Cunningham took a pass from teammate Nikki Collins and beat the keeper Little one-on-one at the lower corner of the net for her second goal of the season.

The victory for Western Carolina is it's sixth win in the last seven games and also continues a four game home winning streak, dating back to their 1-0 victory over #20 South Carolina on Sept. 21.

"This was a tremendous effort for our team," said Head Coach Tammy DeCesare. "Elon was a dangerous team and we really stepped it up in the overtime to take control."

In the first half Western Carolina came out attacking from the start with a lot of great opportunities early on - two minutes into the contest senior forward Buki Baruwa had a shot but it just went high. One minute later freshman Kayla Beauduy had an opportunity on goal but Elon goalie Little came up with the save.

Ten minutes into the game the Catamounts struck first when Beauduy put a cross into the box and junior Rachael Shomper put a header onto the back on the net just over the head of the Elon goalie Little to make it 1-0 Catamounts. It was Shomper's first goal of the season.

At the end of the first half Western Carolina out shot the Elon Phoenix 5-to-1 and two shots on goal to zero for Elon.

The Elon Phoenix came out attacking in the second half when ten minutes into the half, Susannah Gianakos scored off a rebound from teammate Molly Calpin to even the score at 1-1. Gianakos took a shot inside the box and beat the Catamounts goalie Caitlin Williams in the right corner for her fourth goal of the season.

"We generated a lot of opportunities and never took charge," DeCesare said. "You can't let a good team hang around but we settled in to take advantage in the end."

The Catamounts came out attacking in the overtime scoring two goals at home for the first time this season. Western Carolina also finished the contest with an 11-to-5 shot advantage for the match.

Western Carolina will travel to Statesboro, Ga. to face SoCon opponent the Georgia Southern Eagles on Friday starting at 3 p.m.