Sept. 16, 2011

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Western Carolina women's soccer (4-2-1) fell 4-1 to Richmond Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn Mayfaire Invitational hosted by UNC Wilmington (3-3-2) at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.

The loss is the first for the Catamounts since dropping a 1-0, overtime, decision to Western Kentucky on August 19, almost a month ago. Richmond is coming off a 2-0 victory over No. 23 William & Mary and ranked seventh in the latest NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional rankings poll.

Western Carolina had a chance to strike first, on a great look four minutes into the first period. Katie Salmons battled and took a shot but it was wide left and the Catamounts seemed to be out of sync after the missed opportunity.

"Our youth really showed through tonight in the match," said Head Coach Chad Miller. "And like any good team, Richmond took advantage of it."

Richmond scored three goals in the first half. At the 21:28 mark, the Spiders' Ashley Williams' header into the box put Richmond up 1-0. Just 11 minutes later, at 32:33, Richmond tacked on its second goal of the period when Lindsey Wicher played the ball from the left side and pushed it through in the left corner. The final goal of the first period was notched by Becca Wann at the 42:40 mark.

The Spiders pulled ahead 4-0 when it scored 11 minutes into the second period.

Western Carolina avoided its second shutout of the season with a score at the 87:45 mark. Freshman forward Caitlyn Bradham scored off a header from a corner kick by junior Laura Greb.

Western Carolina completes competition at the Hilton Garden Inn Mayfaire Invitational on Sunday by facing host UNC Wilmington 1:30 p.m.