Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer welcomes students back to campus with their second of three season-opening home matches as the Catamounts host the High Point Panthers on Sunday (Aug. 17). The second match of the season for both squads is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at the on-campus Catamount Athletic Complex.
Admission on Sunday – and for each of the seven remaining regular-season home matches in Cullowhee – is free of charge, courtesy of First Bank. Sunday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
Sunday's Matchup:
Western Carolina (0-1-0, SoCon 0-0-0) vs High Point (0-1-0, Big South 0-0-0)
Cullowhee, N.C. | 1 p.m. | Catamount Athletic Complex
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/3zk3e32c
Watch: ESPN+ (paid subscription required): https://tinyurl.com/3hkfxw8d
Quick Cuts:
The Catamounts and Panthers meet on the pitch officially for only the sixth time in series history, with WCU holding a 3-0-2 record against their fellow feline foes. The most recent matchup was a 2-1 Catamount win at home in 2019. The two teams met in 1999 and 2000, with the series opening match in 1999 resulting in a 1-1 draw at High Point before the Catamounts claimed a 2-0 victory in 2000.
The preseason favorites to claim the Southern Conference regular-season title, the Catamounts look to tighten up a bit after a season-opening loss to archrival Appalachian State out of the Sun Belt Conference. WCU rallied from a two-goal deficit to even the score at 2-2 after entering halftime trailing 2-0, but the Mountaineers struck a third and final time with seconds to play to escape Cullowhee with the win. The Catamounts were still effective offensively, particularly in the second half, with 16 total shots, including nine on target.
High Point opened the season with a tough opponent in No. 14 Virginia Tech. The Hokies rolled the Panthers for a dominant 2-0 victory in High Point, outshooting last year's Big South Conference runners-up, 28-4, while conceding only two shots on goal.
Players to Watch:
Much like they did last season, Isabella DeMarco and Milla Syska led the Catamount offensive attack, with DeMarco putting three of her six shots in the match on target. Syska notched the first goal of the season for the Catamounts, burying a penalty kick to pull WCU within one in the opener.
Goalkeeper Leanne Trudel was the only other Catamount to find the back of the cage, capitalizing on a deflected penalty try to even the match late in the second half.
A veteran core paced the Catamounts on Thursday as just four newcomers saw the pitch for WCU, with transfers Lucie Bertrand and Madison Gellner receiving the start in their Purple and Gold debut. The only two freshmen to enter the season-opener were Kylie White and Addison Davis.
High Point's leading goal scorer from a year ago returns as Sabba Haghgoo begins her sophomore season. The Crofton, Md. native posted six goals last season but was held off the box score in the season opener versus Virginia Tech. The only two Panthers to put shots on goal were a pair of defenders in Kasey Resker and Caroline Dewey.
Aubrey McKessey, High Point's veteran goalkeeper, is already well tested this season as the Canyon County, Calif., product collected 13 saves against the Hokies. McKessey allowed two goals on 28 total Virginia Tech shots, and returns after a strong 1.06 GAA last season with 48 saves.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU remains at home to conclude its three-game regular-season homestand as the Catamounts host former SoCon rival Georgia Southern on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. The matchup is 'Golden Goal Night,' with fans encouraged to wear gold to the match. One fan in attendance will receive a golden soccer ball if the Catamounts score within the first 10 minutes of the match.
Following the opening home stint, the Catamounts hit the road for the first time this season as they head west to take on the defending ASUN Lipscomb Bison in Nashville, Tenn., on August 24 at 2 p.m. WCU then heads to the City of Oaks to battle the NC State Wolfpack in Raleigh on August 27 at 6 p.m. as the tough season-opening gauntlet continues.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's soccer and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, @Catamountsoccer).
