Box Score |   

2014 SoCon Women Soccer Champioonship Bracket 

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Junior forward Markie-Lynn Studnicky scored the game-winning goal, and also had two assists, as Western Carolina women's soccer notched a huge 3-2 upset over ETSU Sunday at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

The win pushes the Catamounts' record to 8-6-4 overall and 5-3-1 in the Southern Conference. ETSU falls to 14-5 and 6-3 in conference play costing the Buccaneers a chance at the SoCon regular season title.

As for the SoCon Championships, Western Carolina earned the No. 6 seed. UNCG is tied, as far as record, with WCU, both 5-3-1, but the Spartans won the tie-breaker with the defeat of the Catamounts 1-0 Oct. 17. Western Carolina's win over ETSU also halted the Buccaneer's three-game winning streak.

With the No. 6 seed, Western Carolina will travel to No. 3 seed Mercer Nov. 2 for a 2 p.m. kick-off. In the previous meeting, Oc. 2 in Macon, Ga., Western Carolina lost a heartbreaker 1-0.

Western Carolina set the tone early, against ETSU, scoring the first goal of the game. Just 13 minutes into the contest, redshirt junior midfielder Kimberly Sullivan took a pass from Studnicky and sailed the ball into the back of the net at the top right corner.

ETSU tied the game at 26:54 off a set play. Jasmin Dutton took the corner kick for the Buccaneers and sent it into the box. The ball deflected off Western Carolina goal keeper Carly Tinstman's fingertips and then fell in front of Hannah Short who shot and scored.

Tied at one at the half, it was anyone's game in the second half. Western Carolina made the game theirs thanks to back-to-back goals in over a minute.

At the 78:02 mark junior forward Kelly Pannell posted her fourth goal of the season thanks to a fast Studnicky. Off Studnicky's fast break, she passed the ball to Pannell who sent it into the right side of the net.

After two assists, Studnicky scored a goal of her own at 79:34. Studnicky scored off a corner kick by Madison Lee who sent the ball in front of the goal and Studnicky rifled it in for the goal.

Studnicky's insurance goal turned out to be the game-winning goal for Western Carolina. ETSU trimmed WCU's lead to one, 3-2, when Molly Collinson scored off an assist by Sarah Zadrazil at 82:40.

For the final seven minutes Western Carolina relied on its stellar defense to close out the win.

Western Carolina's No. 6 seed is the highest for the Catamounts since a sixth seed in 2009.