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Schedule

Full
ReganWard
0
Ohio Ohio (4-4-0, 0-0-0)
3
Winner Western Carolina WCU (5-3-1, 0-0-0)
Ohio Ohio
(4-4-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
3
Western Carolina WCU
(5-3-1, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ohio Ohio 0 0 0
Western Carolina WCU 0 3 3

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Denise Gideon, Director of Media Relations

Soccer Shuts Down Ohio on Senior Day

Freshman Naya Marcil scores pair of goals and senior Ward adds third

The Basics
Score: Western Carolina 3, Ohio 0
Records: Western Carolina 5-3-1, Ohio 4-4
Location: Catamount Athletic Complex, Cullowhee, N.C.   
 
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer notched its fifth shutout of the season blanking visiting Ohio 3-0 Sunday at the Catamount Athletic Complex on Senior Day. 
 
The Catamounts scored all three goals in the second half with a pair of goals by rookie Naya Marcil and senior Regan Ward capped it off with the third goal late in the match. 
 
Before the match seniors Jessica Edgren, Maryanne Kilgore, Natalie McNally, Ashlee Owens, Bella Pighini, Valentine Pursey, Amber Van Den Berg, and Regan Ward were honored. 
 
Individual Leaders:
  • Marcil scored a season-high two goals in the match against the Bobcats. 
  • Ward scored her first goal of the season.
  • Senior Valentine Pursey picked up an assist in the match.
  • Senior Ashlee Owens got the start in the match playing 29:34 minutes of shutout soccer before being lifted late in the first half for junior Melody Mezzina. 
  • Mezzina finished out the match playing the final 60:26 earning her fifth shutout of the season and earning the win in goal. She improves to 4-1-1 on the year. She had two saves in the contest.   
 
 Inside the Box Score
  • Both teams had chances in the first half but couldn't find the back of the net playing to a 0-0 tie after the first 45 minutes. 
  • The Catamounts came out in the second half pressing offensively with shots just missing the goal or just pinging off the top of the crossbar.
  • The aggressive play finally paid off in the 60th minute. Pursey passed the ball to Marcel who took a shot on the right side, just outside the box, sending a booming kick that curled into the upper left-hand side of the goal. 
  • Marcil struck again 15 minutes later, in the 75th minute. Natalie McNally sent a free kick near the box, from about midfield, sending the cross into the box as it fell in front of the feet of Marcil who fought for position. She found her footing as the ball rebounded in front of her and she took a high kick and sent it into the left side of the goal. 
  • Senior day had an exclamation put on it when Ward scored the final goal of the match. Reily Nelson sent a Catamount corner kick into the box and Ward headed the ball into the goal. 
  • Western Carolina had 24 shots in the match while Ohio had 13. The Catamounts had 18 of its 24 shots in the second half. 
 
News & Notes:
  • Mezzina has only allowed one goal in 530:26 minutes with a record of 4-1-1. She had 0.17 goals-against average and a total of 21 saves. 
  • Western Carolina has had seven different players score this season. 
  • The win over Ohio is the Catamount's first victory over a team from the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
  • The Catamounts now have three players who have scored two goals this season (Pursey, Kirsten Hahn, and Marcil).
  • The three goals scored by Western Carolina tied the season-high for most goals scored in a match in fall 2021. WCU scored three goals in the 3-0 win over Gardner-Webb on Aug. 29. 
 
UPCOMING:
  • Western Carolina begins Southern Conference play next weekend hosting Mercer at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 and The Citadel at 2 p.m. Sept. 26. 
 
 Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's soccer and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, @Catamountsoccer).
 
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