Spartanburg, S.C. – Isabella DeMarco and Sofia Goclowski both recorded braces on Sunday afternoon with a pair of goals apiece as Western Carolina women's soccer again lit up the scoreboard in earning a 6-1 victory over the Wofford Terriers at Snyder Field.
WCU's 10th victory of the season give the Catamounts double-digit wins for the third time in the last four years – and the fourth time in the last six seasons. The road tally gives the Catamounts 15 points in conference play through their first five games and a two-point edge over second-place Samford, who WCU defeated head-to-head in the SoCon opener in September.
In the winning effort, though, the impressive month-long and nine-match shutout streak came to an end in Spartanburg. The Catamounts added to their current 11-game unbeaten streak, going 9-0-2 since their home draw with Longwood in late August. WCU is now on a seven-game win streak, outscoring the opposition 26-1 in that span.
WCU's explosive offense dominated the day and the scoreboard in Spartanburg. The Catamounts rattled off 25 shots including 15 on goal in the road victory. The Purple and Gold's defense was just as effective in the victory as it has been in recent weeks, allowing just seven shots – two on target – despite conceding its first goal since August.
The Catamounts attacked early and often, just as they have in the other six games in the seven-game win streak. Isabella DeMarco and Milla Syska connected on the opening goal of the day just 2:30 minutes into the match, the second goal of conference play for DeMarco. The preseason offensive player of the year quickly followed it up with a second goal – and the eventual game-winner – in the 12th minute. Sofia Goclowski joined in on the scoring action in the 18th minute, rocking the cage for the first time this season to put the Catamounts up 3-0. Kirsten Hahn then contributed her sixth goal of the season in the 27' minute, with Sophie Burchfield and Abbie Lainhart contributing assists to put the Catamounts up 4-0 before the break.
In the 56' minute, breakout star Milla Syska notched her fourth goal of the conference slate, corralling a lofted ball from Abbie Wise and evading the keeper for her tenth goal of the season. The Terriers scored not long after to cut the score to 5-1, but Sofia Goclowski capitalized on an Alexis DeMarco pass to put the Purple and Gold back up by five immediately after.
Catamount Notables:
· The Catamounts are now 10-2-2 on the season and 5-0 in SoCon play … the squad has hit double-digit wins in three of the last four seasons and in four of the last six years overall;
· Though the Catamounts lengthy shutout streak ended, the Purple and Gold extended its current win streak to seven matches dating back to the 1-0 win over Presbyterian back on Sept. 12;
· Isabella DeMarco and Sofia Goclowski both recorded their first braces of the season with Goclowski's multi-goal effort marking the first of her career ... It is the first time two Catamounts have had a brace in the same game since DeMarco and Naya Marcil did so against Winthrop in a 5-1 win in Rock Hill, S.C. last season;
· WCU fired 25+ shots for the third time this season and put 15+ on goal for the second time this year ... the Catamounts have had at least 15 shots in 12 of their 14 matches this season and at least 10 shots on goal in 10 of 14 matches.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU returns home this Thursday (Oct. 17) night to host mountain-rival ETSU at the Catamount Athletics Complex. As requested by the students, each time WCU and ETSU meet in SoCon play, the match is slated for a Black Out/Beat the Bucs matchup. Kick for the final home game of the regular season is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Purple and Gold then begin a three-game road swing to close out regular-season play, beginning in Greensboro against the UNCG Spartans in a 2 p.m. kick on Sunday.
