CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Tied after a scoreless opening half, Western Carolina scored four unanswered goals in the second stanza to give the Catamounts a 4-0 victory over UNCG in Southern Conference women's soccer action on Thursday at the Catamount Athletics Complex.
 
WCU improves to 5-3-3 overall and 2-1 in league play while UNCG drops to 4-6-2 and 1-2-1. The four goals tie a season-high for the Catamounts and also represent the most allowed by the Spartans this year.
 
"I'm really proud of the group for their response after halftime," said head coach Chad Miller. "I felt like in the first half we weren't totally committed to what we were trying to do. We got in at halftime, talked through things, made some adjustments, and started rolling in the second half. It was great to see them score goals."
 
In the first half, the Catamounts held an 8-3 edge in shots with both goalkeepers tested in the opening six minutes. Leanne Trudel made one save coming just over five minutes into the contest while UNCG backstop Emma Malone stopped three shots.
 
WCU struck quickly in the second half as Naya Marcil got the Catamounts on the board in the 47th minute, firing a shot that graced the right post on the way in. Marcil's sixth goal of the year was assisted by Maggie Lloyd and Alexis DeMarco. Just over two minutes later, Isabella DeMarco put WCU ahead 2-0 with her seventh goal of the year after taking a pass from Marcil along the left side and beating Malone.
 
Milla Syska tallied her second goal of the year in the 62^nd minute which gave WCU a 3-0 lead. After an initial shot by Kirsten Hahn was stopped, Syska found the rebound and deposited the loose change.
 
Isabella DeMarco tallied the final goal of the match with just over eight minutes remaining as Sarah Engen crossed a ball over the box. The ball landed at DeMarco's feet and she didn't miss to score her eighth goal of the year and second of the night.
 
Trudel earned her fifth shutout of the season and seventh of her career, making four saves. Malone was credited with five saves.
 
"Getting a clean sheet is important for our back four and our goalkeeper to rebound after Sunday," said Miller. "They did a good job for us tonight."
 
The Catamounts remain at home on Sunday, hosting Wofford in a 3 p.m. conference contest.
 
"This league is so competitive that you have to bring your best game every time out. We'll need to be mentally focused and sharp for Wofford because it'll be another test."
 
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