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Western Carolina downed Winthrop 3-1 on Sunday (Aug. 8) in exhibition action at the Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee.
Catamount Athletics Creative Media

Women's Soccer Denise Gideon, Director of Media Relations

Catamount Soccer Hosts UNF and UNCA in Season Opening Weekend

Match with UNF moved from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer hosts North Florida at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Catamounts' home and season opener for the fall 2021 season. The match was moved back from 5 p.m. due to the heavy rain in the area over the last 48 hours allowing for improved field conditions.
 
WCU will turn around and welcome mountain rival UNC Asheville at 7 p.m. Sunday as part of its season-opening weekend.  
 
The Catamounts return to the pitch only four months after completing its unprecedented spring 2021 season due to the postponement of the fall 2020 campaign. 
 
THURSDAY – LIVE STATS | ESPN+
SUNDAY – LIVE STATS | ESPN+
 
 
  AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE CATAMOUNTS:
  • Western Carolina was scheduled to play two exhibitions but was only able to complete one. The Catamounts defeated Winthrop 3-1 at the Catamount Athletic Complex on Aug. 8 with goals by sophomore Maggie Lloyd, and freshmen Naya Marcil and Kirsten Hahn. The Catamounts match at Presbyterian on Aug. 14 was canceled due to inclement weather. 
  • The Catamounts were chosen to finish sixth in the Southern Conference Coaches' preseason poll. 
  • In the spring 2021 season, Lloyd was named to the SoCon All-Freshman team. 
  • Maryanne Kilgore, Bella Pighini, and Regan Ward return for their fifth year using their COVID year to return. 
  • A pair of Catamount newcomers bring a wealth of experience as Valentine Pursey and Natalie McNally were four-year players for Indianan University Purdue University (IUPUI) before transferring to Western Carolina. 
  • Western Carolina is 15-6-1 in home openers and 12-9 in season openers. 
  • The Catamounts face North Florida for the third time in the two programs' history with each other. WCU defeated the Osprey 3-1 in the Catamounts home opener in 2011 and fell to UNF 3-1 in 2019 in Jacksonville, Fla.  
  • Western Carolina and UNC Asheville have a long and storied history, meeting for the 20th time on Sunday. The Catamounts hold a 10-3-3 advantage over the Bulldogs having won the last two meetings and a record of 8-1-1 over the last 10 matches. 
 
AN INSIDE LOOK AT OPPONENTS:
  • North Florida opens the 2021 season with three straight road matches which begin in Cullowhee at Western Carolina. 
  • UNF claimed the ASUN South Division crown during the spring season, after posting an undefeated 6-0 record. The Ospreys were tabbed the co-favorite with Lipscomb to win the ASUN title this fall. North Florida returns nine starters including ASUN Player of the Year Thais Reiss and ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year Mercedes Sapp.
  • UNC Asheville will face Appalachian State on Thursday prior to facing Western Carolina on Sunday. 
  • UNCA was picked to finish 10th in the Big South Preseason Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs ended the spring 2021 season with a record of 2-7.
 
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

Maryanne Kilgore

#6 Maryanne Kilgore

D
5' 7"
Graduate Student
Jefferson HS
Bella Pighini

#31 Bella Pighini

MF
5' 4"
Graduate Student
Lakes Community HS
Regan Ward

#30 Regan Ward

MF
5' 8"
Graduate Student
Strongsville HS
Kirsten Hahn

#4 Kirsten Hahn

F
5' 8"
Freshman
Natalie McNally

#99 Natalie McNally

D
5' 10"
Graduate Student
Naya Marcil

#7 Naya Marcil

F/M
5' 8"
Freshman
Valentine Pursey

#27 Valentine Pursey

F/M
5' 6"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Maryanne Kilgore

#6 Maryanne Kilgore

5' 7"
Graduate Student
Jefferson HS
D
Bella Pighini

#31 Bella Pighini

5' 4"
Graduate Student
Lakes Community HS
MF
Regan Ward

#30 Regan Ward

5' 8"
Graduate Student
Strongsville HS
MF
Kirsten Hahn

#4 Kirsten Hahn

5' 8"
Freshman
F
Natalie McNally

#99 Natalie McNally

5' 10"
Graduate Student
D
Naya Marcil

#7 Naya Marcil

5' 8"
Freshman
F/M
Valentine Pursey

#27 Valentine Pursey

5' 6"
Graduate Student
F/M