Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer has enjoyed a week off from action and now looks to scratch another entry in the win column as the Catamounts face the Georgia State Panthers in Atlanta on Sunday, Sept. 1, at 1:00 p.m. in the second all-time series meeting.
Sunday's Match-Up:
Western Carolina (1-2-1, 0-0-0 SoCon) at Georgia State (0-2-1, 0-0-0 Sun Belt)
Atlanta, Ga. | 1:00 | GSU Soccer Complex
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/4d8y8739
Watch (ESPN+): https://tinyurl.com/2v56tyjv
2023 Records:
Western Carolina (13-5-3, 7-2-0 SoCon)
Georgia State (9-5-6, 4-3-3 Sun Belt)
Quick Cuts:
The Catamounts and Panthers met for the first time in program history last season as the feline foes battled to a 2-2 draw at the Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee. The Purple and Gold was one of two Southern Conference foes for the Panthers last year as the Panthers also battled to a 0-0 tie with in-state rival Mercer the week before.
Similarly, WCU is the second SoCon foe for GSU this season, as the Panthers have already gone the distance in a 2-2 draw with Chattanooga. The Panthers face a third SoCon opponent as they head to Macon to face the Mercer Bears later in September. The Catamounts were scheduled to face two Sun Belt opponents last year, though the matchup with Appalachian State was cancelled.
Players to Watch:
Though the Catamounts are only four matches into their 2024 campaign, Kirsten Hahn is enjoying a career-best start. The senior forward leads the Catamounts with eight points coming on four goals, most recently adding to her total with a goal in the 24th minute against the Longwood Lancers last weekend in Cullowhee. Since her freshman season in 2021, Hahn's single-season high is 10 points when she recorded three goals and four assists on 36 shots, 11 on goal.
Second in terms of points is stalwart defender Becca Campbell, who connected with Hahn for the latter's goal against the Lancers. One of three Catamounts to be on the pitch for all 360 minutes this season, Campbell has flashed offensively this season and is currently on a three-match points streak dating back to the Catamounts dominant win over UNC Asheville, recording two goals and an assist in that span.
Another attacker to keep an eye on is junior forward Milla Syska who has been on the verge of a breakout season. Syska currently stands tied for third in points with Naya Marcil as both WCU strikers have four points on the season. She is the only Catamount to have at least 10+ shots and a .500 shot on goal percentage. The Charlotte, N.C. product is third on the team in shots with 12 and tied for second in shots on goal with six.
While the Panthers have struggled offensively, blanked in back-to-back 2-0 shutouts at the hands of SEC foes Ole Miss and Florida, Georgia State is led in shots by Aaliyah Faddoul and Emily Glenn as the pair have six shots each in the early season. Sunnijayh Tucker and Bree Barley are the only Panthers to earn a goal this season with both scores coming against the Mocs in GSU's season opener.
Seasoned veteran Jaddah Foos has tended the twine between the pipes for the Panthers so far this season, picking up 13 saves early on. The grad student keeper has appeared in 63 games for the Panthers over the course of her five-year career and holds a career .795 save percentage, denying 213 goals during her time in Atlanta.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Western Carolina hits the final stretch of the nonconference slate as it hosts Gardner-Webb for a Thursday night matchup at 7 p.m. on Sept. 7th. It then returns to the road for a Sunday afternoon showdown with fellow cardinal directional university East Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m.
