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Schedule

Full
Kirsten Hahn Hat Trick vs UNC Asheville
1
UNC Asheville UNCA (0-2-0, 0-0-0)
6
Winner Western Caro. WCU (1-1-0, 0-0-0)
UNC Asheville UNCA
(0-2-0, 0-0-0)
1
Final
6
Western Caro. WCU
(1-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UNC Asheville UNCA 0 1 1
Western Caro. WCU 2 4 6

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Josh Ragsdale, Director of Media Relations

Catamounts Open 2024 Home Season with Resounding 6-1 Win over UNC Asheville

Cullowhee, N.C. -- The Western Carolina Catamounts wasted no time in setting the tone for the young season, erupting for six goals, including four in the second half, as a crowd of 1100+ Purple and Gold clad fans enjoyed front row seats to a 6-1 drubbing of the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.  
 
The Catamounts dominated out of the gate, firing the first five shots of the night over the first 15-minutes, with Isabella DeMarco placing the first shot on goal of the night, forcing a save from veteran Bulldog keeper Gracie Murray. The Bulldogs weathered the initial storm, with Mercedes McNabb granting Leanne Trudel her first save of the night in the 20th minute, but the dynamic duo of DeMarco and Naya Marcil would not be topped in the 23rd minute of the home opener. Gathering a crosser from Demarco, Marcil took her first shot of the night, but was denied by the Asheville keeper, who was unable to recover the rebounded shot. Marcil took advantage of the second opportunity, burying the first goal of the Catamounts 2024 season and giving the home team a lead which they would not relinquish.  
 
In the 37th minute, Kirsten Hahn gave a sign of things to come in a career night, as the senior captain buried a shot of her own to give the Catamounts a 2-0 lead going into the half. Hahn's first goal of the night would prove to be the eventual game-winner, securing the Catamounts their first victory of the year.  
 
Despite the Catamounts opening the second half with a volley of shots, the visitors found the first of five-second half goals scored. Mercedes McNabb cut the Catamount lead in half in the 47th minute. The Purple and Gold would then fire the next five shots of the night, placing one on goal before the Bulldogs responded with a shot of their own as Leanne Trudel picked up her second of six saves on the night. Junior Milla Syska extended the Catamounts back to two goals in the 63rd minute, giving the Catamounts all the momentum in the final thirty minutes of the night.  
 
The scoring frenzy was not finished on the night as Kirsten Hahn put back-to-back goals together for the Catamounts in the 66th and 69th minutes, giving the Purple and Gold a 5-1 lead. Hahn recorded the first hat trick of her career and the first for the Catamounts since Isabella DeMarco did so against the Winthrop Eagles last year.  
 
With the lead comfortably in hand, the Catamounts let off the gas in the final few minutes of the night as the Bulldogs peppered Trudel with long-range shots. An Asheville foul deep in their own zone allowed the Catamounts a final shot on the night, which Samantha Vibberts capitalized on to give WCU a strong 6-1 victory. The freshman connected with Becca Campbell in front of the net, giving Vibberts her first career point and Campbell her fourth-career goal in Purple and Gold.  
 
The Purple and Gold dominated the stat sheet on all sides in the 6-1 victory, leading in shots (23-12) and shots on goal (12-7), though both teams collected six saves and seven corner kicks.  
 
Notables:  
  • Kirsten Hahn recorded her first career hat trick and the first Catamount hat trick since Isabella DeMarco recorded one against Winthrop last season. Hahn has now tied her season high mark in goals as she had three in her freshman campaign during the 2021 Fall season.  
  • Naya Marcil recorded the first goal of the young season and the first assist as well. She found the back of the net in the 23rd minute and connected with Kirsten Hahn on her third goal of the night for the first Catamount assist.  
  • The 6-1 win over the Bulldogs is the largest margin of victory in the series since the Catamounts picked up a 5-0 shutout in 2001. The six goals scored is the most in the series, with the seven combined goals making the 2024 match the highest scoring in series history.  
  • The Catamounts have scored six or more goals in 14 games now, with the most recent offensive explosion coming against The Citadel in 2022. The Catamounts had not scored six goals at home since the 2007 season, when they defeated the Chattanooga Mocs 6-1.  
  • The six goals scored are the most by the Catamounts against a non-SoCon school since hanging nine on Delaware State in 2002.  
  • Samantha Vibberts was the first freshman to record a point on the season, getting the assist on Becca Campbell's goal in the 88th minute.  
  • Leanne Trudel, Becca Campbell, and Mary Mueth all went the distance in the dominating victory, seeing action in all 90 minutes of the night. 
 
 
Up Next for the Catamounts 
The Purple and Gold will look to carry the offensive momentum into their midweek matchup in Charlotte as they square off with the Queens Royals on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. They'll then return home to face the Longwood Lances on Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. showdown.  
 
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