Sept. 21, 2008

Final Stats |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's soccer team was aggressive all afternoon and it paid off with a 1-0 upset win against No. 20 South Carolina Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Soccer Complex. It is the first victory over a ranked opponent in the program's 10-year history, as the Catamounts improve to 3-5, while the Gamecocks suffer their first loss of the season falling to 6-1-2.

The Catamounts scored off a corner kick from senior Arlan Whittle, which went past Gamecocks goal keeper Mollie Patton to give Western Carolina the 1-0 lead. The goal at the 64:00 minute mark gave Whittle her first of the season and proved to be the game-winner.

"We knew we had to be aggressive coming in, I knew I had the corner kick and it was dangerous," said senior Arlan Whittle." "We are all really excited, and this is a great win for the program," Whittle said.

The first half was very physical from the start of the game with both teams attacking down the pitch. One minute into the game South Carolina nearly scored off a shot from Lindsay Small that hit the left side of the post after Catamounts goal keeper Caitlin Williams got a piece of the ball to deflect it.

Western Carolina had an opportunity in the first half when Whittle fired a shot on net but Gamecocks goal keeper Patton made the save.

The first half ended with South Carolina leading 3-to-1 in shots but Western Carolina had great intensity from the start. The physical nature of the first half lead to 12 first half fouls with eight coming from the Catamounts.

The second half continued the emotionally play by the Catamounts when four minutes into the half junior Shannon Fowkes had a shot on goal but Gamecocks goal keeper Patton made the stop.

"We had to come out and put some pressure on their players to be successful," said head coach Tammy DeCesare. "This is the biggest win for our program to date by far."

After the Catamounts took the 1-0 lead South Carolina had some opportunities to even the match. With seven minutes remaining a shot by Gamecocks midfielder Lolly Holland was blocked. Seconds later teammate Kim Miller's shot went high over the net.

Catamounts goal keeper Williams finished the game with four saves and recorded her second shutout of the season.

Western Carolina returns to the pitch on Sept. 26 in the club's first Southern Conference match of the season when it travel to Charleston, S.C. to take on the Citadel Bulldogs starting at 4 p.m.