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Schedule

Full
Isabella DeMarco and Milla Syska vs UNCG 2025
Mark Haskett
2
UNC Greensboro UNCG (3-10-3, 2-3-3)
4
Winner Western Caro. WCU (9-4-4, 5-1-2)
UNC Greensboro UNCG
(3-10-3, 2-3-3)
2
Final
4
Western Caro. WCU
(9-4-4, 5-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UNC Greensboro UNCG 1 1 2
Western Caro. WCU 2 2 4

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

DeMarco Ties Career Assists Record, Posts Brace in 4-2 Win Over UNCG

Cullowhee, N.C. – Isabella DeMarco netted two goals and chipped in an assist to Lucie Bertrand on the eventual game winner in the 59th minute as Western Carolina women's soccer finished off another undefeated week in Southern Conference play as the Catamounts downed the UNC Greensboro Spartans 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Athletics Complex.

The team-leader in scoring, DeMarco tied the WCU career assists record at 25 with her helper on Bertand's winner as the Catamounts improved to 9-4-4 overall and 5-1-2 in the SoCon. WCU sits second in the overall standings and four points over the current third-place team, ETSU, with only one league match remaining in the season. UNCG falls to 3-10-3 and 2-3-3 in conference matches.  

Isabella DeMarco scored her eighth goal of the SoCon slate in the fourth minute on the first shot of the match as WCU jumped out in front of the visiting Spartans early. Milla Syska and Lucie Bertrand chipped in assists on the play before the Catamounts built on the early momentum, outshooting UNCG four to one with two shots on goal outside of the early score.  

DeMarco nearly came away with a second goal in the 24th minute, but goalkeeper Emma Malone denied the score. However, Malone was unable to corral the loose ball on the rebound, with Syska capitalizing on the carom to put the Catamounts ahead 2-0.

The Catamounts held steady to close out the first half and looked to carry the two-goal advantage into the break. However, a foul just outside the box gave UNCG an opportunity deep in WCU territory late. Taylor Mentzer fired the ball into the crowd, where Ryen Ortiz won the aerial battle to knock a header into the net, giving UNCG their first goal of the match in the 45th minute.

WCU opened the second half with a barrage of shots, trying to get back to a two-goal advantage. When the Catamounts did light the second-half scoreboard, DeMarco again had a hand in the score. The Charleston, S.C., product crossed back to Lucie Bertrand, who blasted a shot from the top of the box into the back of the net to put the Catamounts back on top 3-1 in the 59th minute.  

The Spartans would not bow out easily, though, as Ortiz again scored, this time on a long shot after collecting a deep pass by Mairead Gower, less than a minute after WCU's score. With UNCG again trailing by one, the Catamounts limited the Spartans to just two more shots before DeMarco buried the visiting team's chances with her second goal of the afternoon.

Following a corner kick attempt by the Catamounts, the Spartans' Avery Barr attempted to play the ball out of the box, but found Milla Syska instead. Syska immediately dished the fortuitous turnover to DeMarco, who took one touch and found the back of the net for her ninth goal of the conference season and 10th overall.  

UNCG put one more attack on frame, but Leanne Trudel denied the late scoring attempt for her fourth save as the Catamounts earned a 4-2 victory.

In total, the Catamounts posted 29 total shots to UNCG's 12, putting 13 shots on frame, while the Spartans posted six. The two teams combined for 14 fouls and three yellow cards, with WCU taking four corner kicks to UNCG's two.  

Catamount Notables:

  • The Catamounts are on their second five-game unbeaten streak of the season, going 4-0-1 against VMI (W, 9-0), The Citadel (W, 3-0), Wofford (W, 1-0), ETSU (T, 0-0), and UNCG (W, 4-2).
  • WCU is on a three-game winning streak against UNCG, the longest streak by the Catamounts in series history. WCU has outscored the Spartans 10-2 in that run and is outshooting them 56-28 (26-13 shots on goal).
  • Isabella DeMarco leads the Southern Conference in total points in the conference slate with 21 and is tied for the conference lead in goals against SoCon foes with nine.  
  • DeMarco tied Lauren Bramlett (2000-03) for the WCU career assists record, posting her 25th assist on Lucie Bertrand's game-winning goal in the 59th minute. She recorded her third multi-goal game of the season and the seventh of her career in the 4-2 win.
  • Lucie Bertrand recorded her first goal for the Catamounts in the 59th minute.
  • Milla Syska posted her third goal and her seventh assist of the season.
  • Despite allowing two goals in the 4-2 win, Leanne Trudel now leads the conference in GAA (.75) and save percentage (.845) in conference play.

Up Next for The Catamounts:

The Catamounts have the midweek off before closing out the 2025 regular season as they host the Chattanooga Mocs next Sunday, Oct. 26, for a 2 p.m. kick at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

With the Catamount set to host at least one half of the SoCon tournament, they'll wait for results following the play-in matches on Oct. 28 before returning to action for the quarterfinals on Oct. 31.

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