CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Behind junior Naya Marcil's ninth goal of the season and the team's third shutout victory of the tournament, top-seeded Western Carolina women's soccer claimed the 2023 Southern Conference Women's Soccer Championship by a 1-0 score over No. 3 seed Samford on Sunday afternoon in front of a facility-record 1,389 fans at the Catamount Athletics Complex. 

The Catamounts claimed their third SoCon title all-time and the first for the program since 2008 when WCU defeated UNCG to claim the championship. Western Carolina improved to 13-4-3 on the season while Samford finished the season 12-4-5. 

"It was an unbelievable effort from our team this afternoon. I want to congratulate Todd Yelton and Samford on a great season as his team has set the bar and we were fortunate to come out on the good end of this one." commented SoCon Coach of the Year Chad Miller. "The crowd was incredible all afternoon and this program is built on people including our KKSB family that stretches from 1999 to today," added Miller.

WCU got on the board first after three consecutive corner kicks. Marcil buried her ninth goal of the season on a scramble play in front of the goal to put WCU in front 1-0. 

Western Carolina looked to push the advantage to two with five shots throughout the remainder of the opening half with the Bulldogs putting three shots on the scoresheet with one on the frame as the Catamounts carried the 1-0 lead into halftime.

The Catamounts brought a flurry of action in the first 20 minutes of the second half with four shots on goal, but the Bulldogs kept WCU off the scoresheet throughout the barrage. 

Continuing to trail by a goal and starting to push, Samford put its best chance forward beginning in the 75th minute as a trio of shots were uncorked on a scramble in front of the Catamount cage. WCU keeper Leanne Trudel made the initial save with the Bulldogs firing a second attempt on the rebound that bounced back out in front. The tournament's most outstanding player - WCU's Paige McAra – recorded one of the biggest blocks of the match as she deflected the attempt in front of the yawning cage before the third offering was pushed just wide to maintain the one-goal margin.

"Defensively in this tournament we've been unbelievable as we've not given up a goal as Leanne Trudel and our back four have been great and am really proud of this entire group today," added Miller.

The opportunity in the 75th minute proved to be the best and ultimately the final chance for Samford as WCU played a tight possession game over the closing minutes and hung on to claim the program's third SoCon women's soccer crown. 

WCU held a 12-9 shot advantage with a 6-2 lead in shots on goal. Marcil led the way with four shots, including three on frame, with one finding the back of the net. Isabella DeMarco had three shots, including two on goal in the contest. Leanne Trudel was part of a stellar backline, picking up one save en route to the shutout victory. 

Sunday's result marked the 12th clean sheet of the 2023 season. WCU went through the tournament without allowing a goal in the three matches, each played on their home field. With the win, WCU has now tied for fourth in the single-season record book for wins in a season, matching the 13 victories accrued during the 2008 season. 

Following the match, WCU's Alexis DeMarco, Ava Robitaille, Marcil, and McAra were all named to the SoCon All-Tournament team, with McAra earning the most outstanding player of the championship. Katelyn Galbraith and Maggie Lloyd were the co-recipients of the Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average among championship-eligible players on the winning team.

Western Carolina learns of its destination and opponent in the 2023 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship which will be announced at 4 p.m. on Monday (Nov. 6) on a special selection show online at NCAA.com. The Catamount women's soccer team and fans are expected to gather on Monday afternoon to watch the show in the Ramsey Center Hospitality Room located on the first floor. Later on Monday evening, WCU head soccer coach Chad Miller will be a guest on the Catamount Coaches Show Facebook LIVE, on location from courtside in the Ramsey Center ahead of the 2023-24 WCU women's basketball season opener with the show available through the WCU Athletics Facebook Page (fb.com/catamountsports) beginning at 5:30 p.m.

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).