Oct. 24, 2008

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's soccer team used a goal in each half, to defeat the Chattanooga Mocs 2-0 Friday night. The Catamounts improve to 11-6 overall and 8-1 in the Southern Conference after the victory while Chattanooga drops to 5-12-1 and 2-7 in the SoCon after the loss.

The victory for Western Carolina extends its winning streak to four games including five straight wins at the Catamount Athletic Complex against Southern Conference opponents.

In the 18th minute of play the Catamounts found the back of the net when junior Shanna Schmoker beat the Mocs keeper Allie Preston in the right corner to give Western Carolina a 1-0 lead. Schmoker took the pass from teammates Rachael Shomper and Shannon Fowkes for her team leading fifth goal of the season.

"We came out with a game plan and made things happen early on," said Head Coach Tammy DeCesare. "We had a lot of opportunities in the first half, which made the game interesting.

The Catamounts finished the first half with a 10-to-1 advantage in shots with Mocs keeper Preston coming up with four saves to keep the game close at 1-0.

Western Carolina added another goal in the 87th minute thanks to a penalty kick goal by junior Bri Cunningham for her third goal of the season to make the score 2-0 Catamounts. Cunningham was taken down inside the box and then delivered the strike past the Mocs keeper Preston on the right side of the goal.

The Catamounts defense played another great game despite the rainy and wet atmosphere surrounding the Catamount Athletic Complex Friday evening. One key moment in the game came when Chattanooga midfielder Donna-Kay Henry had broke though with a breakaway but Catamounts defender Liz Eichler chased her down with a slide tackler to preserve the victory.

"Our backline has been solid all season long," DeCesare said. "That was a testimonial to Liz's (Eichler) and her mental toughness on that play."

Western Carolina finished the game with 19 shots including nine attempts on goal, holding the Mocs to just four shots with only one coming on goal.

The Catamounts will return to the pitch on Sunday when they host the Samford Bulldogs on Senior Day starting at 2 p.m.