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The 2024 Catamount Women's Soccer senior class!
Mark Haskett
0
Winthrop WIN (3-4-0, 0-0-0)
4
Winner Western Caro. WCU (5-2-2, 0-0-0)
Winthrop WIN
(3-4-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
4
Western Caro. WCU
(5-2-2, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Winthrop WIN 0 0 0
Western Caro. WCU 1 3 4

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

Women's Soccer Notches Fifth Straight Shutout on Senior Day

Catamounts score three in the second half in 4-0 win over Winthrop

Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina's Class of 2024 couldn't have asked for a better Senior Day than Sunday's 4-0 shutout victory over the Winthrop Eagles on a near picture-perfect afternoon at the Catamount Athletics Complex.

Sunday's victory gives the Catamounts an impressive 4-0-1 record at home to close out the nonconference slate, outscoring opponents 17-3 in Cullowhee this season.  

WCU advanced to 5-2-2 record overall, recording its fifth-straight shutout which ties the 2008 team for the longest streak in program history. The Catamounts haven't surrendered a goal to the opposition since the 71st minute of the 2-2 draw with Longwood back on Aug. 25, as the Catamount defense has held the opposition scoreless for 469 straight minutes.  

Just as they have done in recent weeks, the Catamounts fired on all cylinders offensively in the match, posting a season-high 27 shots and recording 13 combined points on four goals and five assists. Goalkeeper Leanne Trudel and the Catamount backline held the Eagles to just two shots on the day, both of which were on goal.

Trudel saved the Catamount shutout streak in the 59th minute with a highlight reel-worthy save. Winthrop's Emma Smith rocketed a shot high on net, but Trudel took to the skies and denied the Eagle attack, pushing the shot over the back of the net with a single hand.  

Catamount seniors accounted for eight of WCU's 13 points on the day with Naya Marcil and Sophie Burchfield both rattling the cage in the 4-0 outing. Alexis DeMarco, Becca Campbell, Abbie Lainhart, and Kirsten Hahn each added assists, though it was freshman Samantha Vibberts who notched the game-winning goal in the 37th minute. The Cincinnati, Ohio, product netted her first-career goal off an Olimpico – the Catamounts second tally scored directly off a corner kick goal this season.  

How it Happened: 

Western Carolina head coach Chad Miller and the Catamount staff elected to field a starting lineup consisting of all eight honored players during WCU's senior day game. Kirsten Hahn, Maggie Lloyd, Sophie Burchfield, and Christina Layton all recorded their first starts of the season.

The Catamount senior-laden lineup threatened to break open the match early as Alexis DeMarco, Naya Marcil, and Hahn combined for the first four shots of the match through the first five minutes, but Winthrop's Lauren Kelly put the first Eagles shot of the day on goal which Leanne Trudel denied for her first of two saves in the shutout effort.  

The Purple and Gold then rattled off eight consecutive shots before Vibberts struck for her first career goal in the 37th minute. Winthrop's Mia Vrataric elevated and got both hands on Vibberts strike, but was unable to corral the shot, which bounced over her head and into the bottom corner of the net. Vibberts had an opportunity to close out the first 45 with a second goal in the 43rd minute, but her shot on goal was denied by Vrataric, as the Catamounts ended the half up 1-0.  

The Catamount offense looked to add to its total quickly in the second half, as Naya Marcil capitalized on the first Catamount shot in the final 45 to take a commanding 2-0 lead. She was assisted by Becca Campbell and Alexis DeMarco with both assisting Catamounts recording their second assists of the season. Only seven minutes later in the 54th minute, Isabella Demarco connected with Milla Syska for the latter's sixth goal of the season, and DeMarco's team-leading fourth assist of the year, giving the Catamounts a dominating 3-0 lead.  

Outside of Leanne Trudel's incredible, sky-bound save in the 59th minute to keep the shutout alive, the game's pace slowed for the next 28 minutes, with WCU firing five shots down the stretch. The lull in play broke in the 82nd minute when Sophie Burchfield capitalized on clean passes from fellow seniors Kirsten Hahn and Abbie Lainhart to notch the fourth and final Catamount goal of the day as WCU cruised to the dominating 4-0 victory.  

Catamount Notables: 

  • The Catamounts posted their fifth straight shutout of the season, which ties the 2008 team for the longest shutout streak in program history;
  • WCU end the nonconference schedule with a 5-2-2 record and riding a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2); 
  • The Catamount offense outshot Winthrop 27-2 on the day, the team's sixth outing with 20+ shots this season. They also had their seventh game this year with 10+ shots on goal;
  • Catamount seniors combined for 17 shots, putting 10 on net ... They also combined for two goals and four assists in the 4-0 win; 
  • Samantha Vibberts notched her first career goal, recording an Olimpico in the 37th minute of the match – WCU's second Olimpico of the season;
  • Milla Syska recorded her team leading sixth goal of the season 
  • Isabella DeMarco recorded her team leading fourth assist of the year 

Up Next for the Catamounts: 

Western Carolina now turns its attention to the start of Southern Conference play, looking to start league play on the right foot as it hosts the Samford Bulldogs next Thursday, Sept. 19, with a 7 p.m. kick. The first 300 students in attendance at the SoCon championship rematch will receive a free "2023 Southern Conference Champions" scarf courtesy of The Everson. 

WCU's four-match homestand concludes in one week when the Catamounts welcome Mercer to the Catamount Athletic Complex on Sunday, Sept. 22, with a 2 p.m. start.

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