Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's soccer picked up a crucial 3-0 win over VMI Sunday, on Senior Day, at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

The Catamount victory improves WCU's Southern Conference record to 4-3-1 and 7-6-4 overall. VMI falls to 3-12, and 2-5 in the SoCon.

Western Carolina currently has 13 points in the conference race sitting them in sixth place. With the 13 points, the Catamounts are assured at least a sixth seed in the SoCon Tournament, but varying factors could boost its seed after the final weekend. The Catamount defense stifled VMI, as the Keydets failed to get the ball on the Catamounts' side of the field for most of both halves. In fact, VMI was held to just one shot which occurred in the first half.

Junior forward Markie-Lynn Studnicky scored the first of Western Carolina's three goals in the game at 14:53 in the first half. Studnicky took a pass from Madison Lee and went one-on-one with VMI goalie Emily Marbury, shooting 10 feet in front of the goal, for the score.

Leading 1-0 at the half, the Catamounts would tack on two more goals in the second half.

At 51:13, freshman forward Chandler Arrowood tied senior forward Caitlyn Bradham for goals in a season with her fourth on the year. From a pass by senior Christina White, Arrowood dribbled from the left side of the box and shot over the VMI goal keeper's head to score.

With less than a minute left in the game, junior forward Kelly Pannell notched her third goal of the season to push the Catamount lead to 3-0. Pannell scored an unassisted goal when she shot from the left side of the net pinging he upper right side of the net.

The score could have been higher. Of the 21 shots taken by Western Carolina the Catamounts had numerous shots ring off the cross bar or post. The Catamounts also had the second-most corner kicks of the season with 11.

Three Catamount goal keepers saw action in the game. Senior Jenny Lauer started the game, for Senior Day, and was replaced by sophomore Carly Tinstman after kick-off. Junior Taylor Erickson was in goal for the second half.

Western Carolina closes out the regular season at 2 p.m. Oct. 26 hosting returning SoCon member ETSU.

Seniors Bradham, Christine Cockrell, Mackenzie Cole, Brittany Gendron, Lauer, Lee and White were honored before the game.