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Katelyn Galbraith
Ashley Evans, WCU Communications and Marketing

Women's Soccer Denise Gideon, Director of Media Relations

Soccer Closes Out Regular Season on the Road at VMI and UNCG

Looking to close out season strong

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer concludes regular season play on the road this weekend traveling to VMI Friday and UNCG on Sunday. 
 
The pair of contests have crucial implications for seeding in the upcoming 2021 Southern Conference Championships. The Catamounts are currently tied for second place with Furman with identical conference records of 4-3. 
 
However, WCU has the head-to-head tiebreaker as the Catamounts defeated the Paladins 3-1 on Oct. 1. Western Carolina has its fate in its hands. If they win out WCU will lock down the No. 2 seed and host the quarterfinal and semi-final matches next weekend, Oct. 29 and Oct. 31. 
 
Should WCU drop a match or tie then the Catamounts seeding will be dependent on the Paladins' results.  
 
 FRIDAY – LIVE STATS | ESPN+
 
SUNDAY – LIVE STATS | ESPN+
 
 AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE CATAMOUNTS:
  • Graduate transfer Valentine Pursey leads the country, and the SoCon, with six game-winning goals. She is also tied for fourth, among active players, in the conference record book. 
  • All-time, Pursey's six game-winning goals rank second in the Catamount record books. She is chasing former standout Jordan Howell who had seven in the 2001 season.
  • Pursey also leads the team and ranks second in the conference in goals scored with eight. Her six goals in conference play pace the league.  
  • Pursey's eight goals also rank tied for ninth, with former Catamount Kelly Pannell, for most goals in a season.
  • Western Carolina ranks 92nd in RPI, the second highest in the Southern Conference behind SoCon regular-season champion Samford who is at 50. 
  • Rookie Naya Marcil, who notched two assists last weekend, ranks eighth in the conference with four assists and second in conference-only matches.  
  • Senior goalie Ashlee Owens has started the last two matches in goal and registered the first shutout of her career with the 3-0 win over Chattanooga on Oct. 17. Her 1.00 goals-against average, in conference matches, ranks third. 
  • Western Carolina is 5-2 on the road this season with losses to top-five Duke and a 1-0 setback at ETSU on Oct. 9. The five road wins are the most for the Catamounts since WCU won six road matches in 2013.
  • The Catamount record for road wins is nine set in 2005.
  • Western Carolina's nine wins on the season are tied for ninth in the WCU record books for most wins in a season. A 10th win would this season's team up to a tie for sixth. The Catamount record for most wins is a season is 18 which was attained twice, in 1999 and 2005.
  • Head Coach Chad Miller has won 96 matches at the helm of Western Carolina women's soccer. He was the most wins as Catamount women's soccer's head coach. 
  • Western Carolina and VMI meet for the ninth time on Friday. The Catamounts have never lost to the Keydets, and in fact, have not allowed them to score a goal against them in the eight meetings. WCU has scored three or more goals against VMI in three of the eight matches including a 3-0 win on March 5. 2021. WCU is currently 3-0 at VMI. 
  • The Catamounts and UNCG meet for the 30th time on Sunday. The Spartans hold a 23-3-3 record over WCU. In the last 10 matches, the Spartans have won nine and tied once against the Catamounts. WCU's last win over UNCG came in Greensboro with a 1-0 victory on Sept. 22, 2012. Overall, at UNCG, WCU is 2-10-2.
 
 AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS:
  • VMI is entering Friday's contest on a two-match losing streak and still searching for a conference win. They have one tie against Mercer, 2-2 in double overtime. The Keydets are led by Riley Flannigan's eight goals and five assists. 
  • Two of VMI's three wins on the season have come at home.
  • UNCG will face ETSU Friday before welcoming Western Carolina on Sunday. The Spartans are looking to snap a two-match losing streak before hosting the Catamounts.
  • The Spartans are led by Carolina Woods who has scored four goals and dished out one assist on the season. She was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 12.
 
For the latest information on Western Carolina women's soccer, follow @catamounts for @catamountsoccer on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Ashlee Owens

#1 Ashlee Owens

GK
5' 6"
Senior
Hickory Ridge HS
Naya Marcil

#7 Naya Marcil

F/M
5' 8"
Freshman
Valentine Pursey

#27 Valentine Pursey

F/M
5' 6"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Ashlee Owens

#1 Ashlee Owens

5' 6"
Senior
Hickory Ridge HS
GK
Naya Marcil

#7 Naya Marcil

5' 8"
Freshman
F/M
Valentine Pursey

#27 Valentine Pursey

5' 6"
Graduate Student
F/M