Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer looks to keep up the positive momentum rolling on Sunday as the Catamounts travel down I-26 to Charleston, S.C,. for an afternoon matinee against The Citadel. Kick for WCU's fifth Southern Conference matchup of the season is slated for 2 p.m. on the pitch at the Washington Light Infantry Field.
The Catamounts roll into Sunday's matchup with a 6-4-3 record and a 2-1-1 mark in conference play after most recently blanking VMI 9-0 in Cullowhee. The Citadel is 4-5-2 and 1-2-1 in the conference after falling to Samford 5-0 in Birmingham, Ala.
Sunday's matchup will be livestreamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with a link and live stats available on CatamountSports.com.
Sunday's Matchup:
Western Carolina (6-4-3, SoCon 2-1-1) at The Citadel (4-5-2, SoCon 1-2-1)
Charleston, S.C. | 2 p.m. | Washington Light Infantry Field
Watch ESPN: ESPN+ - https://tinyurl.com/5awenb4c
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/36tcsepz
Quick Cuts:
The Catamounts and Bulldogs meet for the 25th time in series history, with WCU holding a commanding 21-1-2 edge in the all-time series. WCU has won four straight in the series since a 1-1 draw in Charleston in the spring 2021 season and are undefeated in their last 14 matches. The Citadel's sole win in the series came in 2010, when the Bulldogs rallied from a 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 win in Cullowhee.
Western Carolina vented some offensive frustration last time out, riddling the VMI Keydets in a 9-0 shutout victory at the Catamount Athletic Complex back on Thursday night. In their last two matches, the Catamounts have 66 total shots with 35 shots on goal and now lead the SoCon in total shot attempts (229), shots on goal (106), and corner kicks (86).
WCU holds a 4-0-3 mark in road matches this season, including a 1-0-1 record in SoCon road games.
The Citadel is 4-5-2 this season, but the Bulldogs haven't lost consecutive matches this year. Through four SoCon matches this season, The Citadel has been outscored 8-4, though five of those goals allowed came in their last outing against Samford. The Cadets rank solidly within the middle of the Southern Conference statistically, taking 141 shots and putting 61 on frame in 11 matches this season.
The two schools have only shared one common opponent in the regular season, with The Citadel battling to a scoreless draw with Winthrop in Charleston. WCU claimed a 2-0 win in Rock Hill, S.C., over the Big South foe to open the month of September. The Bulldogs have also faced Charleston Southern, falling 4-2 to the Buccaneers in the rivalry matchup, while the Catamounts hosted CSU in their preseason exhibition slate, recording a 4-0 win.
In the conference slate, both squads faced the Samford Bulldogs and the VMI Keydets. The Catamounts battled to a 2-2 draw with the Bulldogs and posted an emphatic 9-0 win over the Keydets, while The Citadel fell 5-0 to Samford but claimed a 2-0 win over their military institution rival.
Around the SoCon – Oct. 5:
The top four currently in the SoCon standings all square off this weekend which could provide a shake-up in the league standings come Monday.
#1 ETSU (8-2-3, 3-0-1) vs. #4 Chattanooga (8-3-2, 2-1-1) | Johnson City, Tenn. | 1 p.m.
#2 Samford (6-2-4, 3-0-1) at #3 Furman (8-2-2, 2-1-1) | Greenville, S.C. | 2 p.m.
#5 Western Carolina (6-4-3, 2-1-1) at #7 The Citadel (4-5-2, 1-2-1) | Charleston, S.C. | 2 p.m.
#6 UNCG (3-8-1, 2-1-1) at #9 Wofford (3-7-4, 0-3-1) | Spartanburg, S.C. | 2 p.m.
#8 Mercer (5-5-2, 0-2-2) at #10 VMI (1-11-1, 0-4-0) | Lexington, Va. | 1 p.m.
Players to Watch:
Six different Catamounts netted goals in the 9-0 win over VMI, but Isabella DeMarco stole the spotlight with a natural hat trick in the first half. DeMarco's three-goal effort was the third of her career and the eighth in program history, and only the second, first-half hat trick in program history. DeMarco added an assist to her total, tying her own program record for points in a match at seven.
Malia Roberts enjoyed a career night as well, notching her first career goal as part of a brace in the 9-0 victory. Roberts scored on both of her shots on goal and was one of three Catamounts to do so, joining Emma Soucy (1 shot on goal, 1 goal) and Rylie Niemeyer (1 shot on goal, 1 goal) in the efficient stat line.
GK Leanne Trudel recorded six saves in the win, notching her 28th career shutout to tie former Catamount Caitlin Williams (28, 2007-10) for the program record. Mary Mueth and Samantha Whitaker joined Trudel as the only three Catamounts to go the distance in the shutout win, recording 90 minutes in the match.
The Citadel is led offensively by Alice Williamson, who has netted four goals so far this season. Elisa Fuentes is close behind with seven total points, posting three goals and an assist for the Bulldogs. The pair are the only two to record goals in conference play for The Citadel, with Williamson recording a brace and the game-winning goal against VMI.
Lizzy Passwaters and Zoe Santos have split time between the posts for The Citadel so far this season, though Santos is the only of the two to see time in net in SoCon play. She has 23 saves against conference foes but has allowed eight goals in four conference matches played.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU will have most of the week off before hosting the Wofford Terriers on Friday, Oct. 10 as the Catamounts celebrate senior night. Kick is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Catamount Athletic Complex, with the senior ceremony for Isabella DeMarco, Leanne Trudel, Abbie Wise, Ava Robitaille, and Milla Syska scheduled to take place during pregame festivities.
The Catamounts then hit the road again on Thursday, Oct. 16, to take on the current conference leader ETSU in Johnson City with a 6 p.m. kick.
