Cullowhee, N.C. – As an afternoon mist turned into second-half rain showers, second-seeded Samford converted a corner kick opportunity into the only goal of Sunday's Southern Conference Women's Soccer Championship match as the Bulldogs dealt top-seed Western Carolina a 1-0 defeat in the finals at the Catamount Athletic Complex in front of a facility record crowd of 1,874.
 
WCU's historic run came to an end on Sunday afternoon with the 1-0 loss in the conference championship. The result gave the Catamounts a 15-3-3 overall record on the season, while the Bulldogs advanced to 12-6-3 and claimed the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The vaunted Catamount defense limited Samford's offensive opportunities throughout the day, holding the Bulldogs to just four shots in the match with just the one on target. However, the regular-season runner-up only needed that one opportunity on the day, recording the lone tally of the match in the 53rd minute.
 
Earning a corner kick after an attempt by Whitaker Buchanan was deflected off the end line, the Bulldogs coiled for the set piece in the attacking third. Buchanan was charged with taking the corner, curling a cross into the crowded box where the 5-10 Ella Simpson was able to rise up and flick a header into the upper left corner of the cage for the go-ahead marker.
 
Trailing for the first time since the 89th minute versus Longwood back on August 25, the Catamount offense rallied to post 15 shots in the rainy second half. WCU recorded seven of its eight shots on goal in the final 45 minutes, peppering the Bulldog cage in search of the equalizer. Samford's Peyton Hull weathered the storm, though, denying all Catamount scoring opportunities to earn the shutout by recording eight saves.
 
Western Carolina dominated all offensive statistics outside of goals in the match, outshooting the Bulldogs, 18-to-4. Forward Isabella DeMarco recorded more shots and scoring opportunities individually than the Bulldogs had as a team as the standout striker fired off five shots, posting four on frame.
 
The Catamounts notched 12 total corner kicks in the loss, their most in a match since recording 19 in a 6-1 win over The Citadel in 2022.
 
Catamount Notables: 

• Western Carolina's Naya Marcil, Mary Mueth, and Abbie Wise all earned placements on the SoCon All-Tournament team named following Sunday's championship match ... the trio combined for nine points off three goals and three assists in the 2024 tournament;  
• The Catamounts have advanced to the Southern Conference Women's Soccer Championship six times and now hold a 3-3 record in the title game;
• The last five matchups with Samford have been shutout decisions … Combined, 16 of the 21 matches have been decided by one goal; 
• WCU's 15 victories in 2024 are the third-most in a single season for the Catamounts and the most since earning 18 in 2005 ... the 2024 win total only trails the 18 wins in 2005 and the 16-win 2001 team.

 
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