Greensboro, N.C. – Isabella DeMarco and Naya Marcil both found the back of the cage as the Western Carolina women's soccer team earned its sixth win of the conference season, battling to a 2-0 decision against the UNC Greensboro Spartans on Sunday afternoon.
The Southern Conference win gives the Catamounts 19 points in the conference standings with two road matches remaining – at Furman on Oct. 24 and in Chattanooga on Oct. 27. The Purple & Gold are now 11-2-3 overall including a 4-2-1 mark on the road with all four wins and the draw coming since the 3-0 win over Georgia State in Atlanta to open September.
Sunday's results, including WCU's 2-0 road win, gives the Catamounts some space on the second-place team, Samford, which drew 2-2 with East Tennessee State in Johnson City. The Bulldogs have earned 17 points in conference play and have a 5-1-2 record. Third-place entering the weekend, UNCG stays at 12 points in SoCon play with a road trip to Birmingham to face Samford looming.
Western Carolina's potent offensive attack was held in check in comparison to the squad's 20-shot-per-game average posted this season, though the Catamounts were efficient in limited opportunities. WCU was held under double-digit shots for only the third time this season, attempting nine in the conference bout, but placing an effective total of four on frame.
Isabella DeMarco, the reigning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week, notched her second game-winning goal of the season in the 23' to put the Catamounts up 1-0 midway through the first half. Milla Syska launched a deep ball to the Purple & Gold speedster, who won her one-on-one with UNCG's Emma Malone for the opening goal of the match.
DeMarco later had a hand in Naya Marcil's insurance marker in the 87' minute. The Charlotte, N.C. product caught Malone out of position on the left wing, resulting in the goalkeeper bringing DeMarco down in the box. Marcil took the penalty kick, burying the shot in the bottom 90 to give the Purple and Gold an insurmountable 2-0 lead late in the match.
The Catamount defense rose to the occasion in its 11th shutout of the season. UNCG's offense was limited to 10 shots on the day with just three threatening scores. Leanne Trudel denied all three attempts, including one of the Spartan's best attacks of the day. Awarded a free kick just outside the box in the 80' minute, UNCG's Merle Greulich opted to put the kick directly on the net, where Trudel corralled the shot for her third and final save of the day.
Catamount Notables:
·The Catamounts have posted 11 shutouts this season, the third-most in a single season in program history. The 2024 team trails only the 2023 team (2nd with 12) and the all-time leader in the 1999 team (13). The Purple and Gold have allowed only eight goals so far this season and the team's .50 goals-against average would be the lowest in a single season by .36.
·The 2-0 win gives the Catamounts back-to-back wins over UNCG for the first time in program history. WCU has outscored the Spartans 6-0 in the two-game run.
·Isabella DeMarco and Naya Marcil both recorded their fourth goal of the conference season in the road win. DeMarco, Marcil, and Milla Syska have all recorded four goals against conference foes this season.
·The Catamounts had previously been 0-1-2 this season when held to 5 or fewer shots on goal. The 2-0 win is also the team's first victory this season when held below 10 shots.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Western Carolina next heads to Greenville, S.C. on Oct. 24 for a pivotal Southern Conference battle with the Furman Paladins in the penultimate match of the regular season. The Catamounts then face the Chattanooga Mocs on the road to close out the seasonal slate on Oct. 27.
