Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina women's soccer team dropped its regular season finale on Sunday afternoon in a physical match with the Chattanooga Mocs, 1-0, at the Catamount Athletic Complex. Entering the weekend with an outside chance at sharing the regular-season crown, Sunday's outcome ultimately did not affect WCU's standing in the Southern Conference, with the second-seed Catamounts still slated to host the SoCon tournament quarterfinals and semifinals next Friday (Oct. 31) and Sunday (Nov. 2).
Despite physical play from the opening kick, neither team mustered much offensively in the first half on Sunday as the two squads combined for only nine total shots. UTC's attempt by Caroline Richvalsky in the 39th minute was the only on-target shot of the half, with Leanne Trudel denying the scoring try.
The Mocs broke the scoring drought in the 66th minute, with Richvalsky capitalizing on a deflected cross from EG Dillard to bury the shot in the corner of the net. The cross into the box was partially deflected by a Catamount defender looking to clear, but wound up on the touch by Richvalsky for the go-ahead marker.
Following the goal, WCU posted just three total shot attempts in the remainder of the match against UTC's defense as the rally fell short. Mary Mueth took both of WCU's on-target shot attempts, with her final one coming late in the match as the Mocs held on for the 1-0 victory.
WCU was outshot 14-7 (6-2) on the day, with 13 fouls whistled and four total yellow cards distributed, three against the Mocs and one to WCU. Leanne Trudel posted five saves in the match, bringing her regular-season total to 78 while Chattanooga took six corner kicks to WCU's three.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
With the 2025 Southern Conference tournament bracket now set, the Catamounts will face the winner of the first-round match between #7 UNCG and #10 VMI, which is scheduled for Tues. Oct. 28, in Greensboro. The Spartans host the Keydets, with the winner of that match scheduled to battle the Catamounts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.
The Catamounts will also host the No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the conference tournament quarterfinals as the ETSU Bucs face the Mercer Bears at 4 p.m. on Oct. 31. Those two teams battled to a 1-1 draw in Macon earlier this season.
The two winners of Friday's matches will face each other in the SoCon Semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m.
On the other half of the bracket, regular-season champion and top-seeded Samford faces the winner of #8 Wofford vs. #9 The Citadel first-round match in the quarterfinals in Birmingham, Ala. The winner of that match will then face the winner between fourth-seeded Chattanooga vs. No. 5 seed Furman.
The conference championship will be played at the highest remaining seed's home site, on either Nov. 8 or 9.
First Round (at higher seeds):
Match 1: No. 9 The Citadel at No. 8 Wofford, 6 p.m.
Match 2: No 10 VMI at No. 7 UNCG, 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 31
Quarterfinals (played at No. 1 seed)
Match 3: Winner Match 1 (CIT/WOF) at No. 1 Samford, 4 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Ala.)
Match 4: No. 4 Chattanooga vs. No. 5 Furman, 7 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Ala.)
Quarterfinals (played at No. 2 seed)
Match 5: Winner Match 2 (UNCG/VMI) at No. 2 Western Carolina, 7 p.m. (Cullowhee, N.C.)
Match 6: No. 3 ETSU vs. No. 6 Mercer, 4 p.m. (Cullowhee, N.C.)
Sun, Nov. 2
Match 7: Semifinals, 1 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Ala.)
Match 8: Semifinals, 2 p.m. ET (Cullowhee, N.C.)
