Johnson City, Tenn. – Thursday's heavyweight billing between two of the top three teams in the Southern Conference vying for a top-two seed lived up to the expectations as the Western Carolina women's soccer team battled to a scoreless draw with the ETSU Buccaneers at Summers-Taylor Stadium.

The Catamounts maintain their second-seed placement in the conference with the draw, pushing their record to 8-4-4 and 4-1-2 in the SoCon. ETSU remains the three seed and is now 8-2-6 overall and 3-0-4 in the conference slate.

The defense for both squads won the first half as the two teams combined for just seven shots, with both teams putting one attack on frame through the first 45 minutes. Sofia Goclowski had the first scoring opportunity of the night just 120 seconds into the match, but ETSU goalkeeper Addison Yelton denied the early scoring attempt.

The Catamounts held the Bucs without a shot on goal for most of the opening 45, before Jada Cooper broke through for an on-target shot. Leanne Trudel collected her first save of the match, holding ETSU scoreless through the break.

Malia Roberts had arguably the best opportunity for a goal in the first half, as the St. Augustine, Fla., product drifted to the side of the box on a WCU corner kick in the 44th minute. After being deflected initially in front of the net, Roberts took advantage of the loose ball on an open net, but sailed her attempt just high.

ETSU forced the Catamounts to play on the back foot for most of the second half, with the Bucs outshooting WCU 8-2 in the final 45. Leanne Trudel collected four more saves in the second half, with her best coming in the 87th minute.

Reagan Fitzgerald raced down the right wing, ripping a shot on net which Trudel dove to deflect. Sofia Goclowski was there to clean up the rebound, blocking a shot off the loose ball from Jada Cooper to deny ETSU a late score.

Following the flurry of shots by ETSU, the Catamounts mounted a late offensive of their own, including their best scoring opportunity of the match courtesy of Emma Soucy.  

In total, the Bucs led the match in total shots (12) and shots on goal (5), but Leanne Trudel and the Catamounts recorded five saves in the scoreless bout. The two teams combined for 20 corner kicks and 18 fouls in the physical rivalry contest.

Catamount Notables:

• WCU capped an undefeated road season with the 0-0 draw. The Catamounts picked up wins over NC State (3-2), UNC Wilmington (2-0), Winthrop (2-0), Mercer (2-1), and The Citadel (3-0), with draws against Lipscomb (2-2), Longwood (0-0), Samford (2-2), and ETSU (0-0), to finish 5-0-4 away from Cullowhee.
• The last two contests with ETSU have been scoreless draws. There have been a combined 34 fouls in those two matches.  
• Leanne Trudel recorded her 31st career shutout. She is one of only four goalkeepers in SoCon history to have at least 30, and is the first to hit the milestone since UNCG's Kelsey Kearney (who later worked for WCU's Catamount Club) and Samford's Alyssa Whitehead in the 2008-2011 seasons.
• Six Catamounts played the full 90 minutes in the match, with Trudel, Abbie Wise, Mary Mueth, Samantha Whitaker, Addison Davis, and Ava Robitaille going the distance.

Up Next for The Catamounts:

The Catamounts look to close out the season strong as they host the UNC Greensboro Spartans on Sunday, Oct. 19, for a 1 p.m. kick. Pending other results that day, WCU will have an opportunity to clinch the second seed in the SoCon tournament with a win on Sunday.

WCU closes out the regular season hosting the Chattanooga Mocs on Oct. 26 for a 2:00 p.m. kick at the on-campus Catamount Athletic Complex.