Oct. 5, 2008

Final Stats |   CATAMOUNT TRACKS PODCAST WITH SOCCER ALUMNI

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina women's soccer, behind Erin Hamilton's first goal of the season, defeated Furman, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon. Western Carolina improves to 7-5 overall, 4-0 in SoCon play, while Furman drops to 8-4-1 overall and 2-2 in SoCon play.

The Catamounts have won four straight conference games which includes five straight shut outs, setting an all-time record for Western Carolina's defense. Also it's the first time that the Furman Paladins have been shut out this season and the first shut out since November of last season against Tennessee.

The victory for Western Carolina is the first against Furman in regular season play at home with their last win coming in 2005 in the SoCon Championship game against Furman. The Catamounts have also completed a clean sweep of the state of South Carolina going 5-0 against the state this season.

"Furman is a great team, we always play close games with them," said Head Coach Tammy DeCesare. "Both teams were very physical, but we settled in nicely in the second half, out playing them with our intensity."

The Catamounts scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 81:00 minute of play, when sophomore Erin Hamilton beat the Paladins keeper Jessica Smith to give Western Carolina the 1-0 victory. Hamilton took the pass from teammate Shannon Fowkes and fired a shot that was misplayed by Paladins keeper Smith going over her head for the goal.

The Catamounts also ended the Paladin's goalkeeper streak of seven straight matches without a loss giving her first loss of the season.

Both teams came out with great focus in the first half, when 13 minutes into the contest the Paladins had an opportunity when Lucy Martin's shot was saved by Catamounts goalie Caitlin Williams.

The Catamounts had a couple of great opportunities in the first half when at the 25:00 minute mark junior Shanna Schmoker had a shot that was blocked by the Paladin's defense. Then 14 minutes later freshman Renee Anderson had a shot on goal, but the save was made by Paladin's keeper Smith.

Catamounts goalie Williams finished the game with four saves and recorded her fifth shutout in a row and now gives her 450:00 minutes of shut out play.

"Our backline does a tremendous job keeping us in the game," DeCesare said. "They find a way to keep things zero to zero."

Western Carolina honored the 10-year anniversary team at halftime during the contest between the Furman Paladins and WCU. Make sure to check out the Catamount Tracks Podcast link in this story for interviews with soccer alumni: Emily Pierce, Nardia Moore and Lauren Atkinson.

The Catamounts travel to Greensboro, N.C. to take on UNC-G this Friday starting at 7 p.m.