Cullowhee, N.C. – Sofia Goclowski deposited a left-side feed from Isabella DeMarco for a match-opening goal in the sixth minute on Sunday afternoon against High Point at the Catamount Athletics Complex. Western Carolina then locked down defensively to maintain its first lead of 2025 as the Catamounts triumphed in a hard-fought affair over its fellow feline Panthers, claiming a 1-0 shutout victory.

The Sunday afternoon bout between the two conference runners-up from 2024 was relatively even throughout, though the Catamounts outshot the Panthers 10-to-6, with both teams putting four shots on goal. Neither team recorded a corner kick in the first 65 minutes of play, but a late flurry allowed the Panthers to finish with four to WCU's three in what was again a physical match. The two teams combined for 24 total fouls on the day.

High Point (0-2-0) opened the match with the first shot on goal, courtesy of Sabba Haghgoo, in the third minute. WCU's Leanne Trudel collected her first of four saves in the match off the offering, with the Catamounts answering with a shot of their own just two minutes later. Isabella DeMarco corralled an Abbie Wise throw-in, swerving through the Panther defense before feeding a ball to Goclowski, who was alone on the left wing. The Sharon, Mass. product curled a shot with her right foot past the diving glove of HPU keeper Aubrey McKessy, netting her first goal of the season and what would prove to be the eventual game-winner.

The Panthers and Catamounts both fired four shots in the first half, with High Point testing Trudel and the WCU defense throughout the first 45. The Panthers put two more shots on net, one in the 21st minute from Courtney Andruczk and a final one in the 34th minute from Izzy Allred. Goclowski fired another shot on target in the first stanza, finishing the match as the Catamount offensive leader with four shots, two on net, and the match's lone goal over 61 minutes of play.

Western Carolina (1-1-0) dictated play for much of the second half, firing six more shots while surrendering only two to High Point. The Panthers' last on-target effort came in the 64th minute from Corynn McDonnell, but Trudel smothered the attempt to maintain the shutout. Later, the most threatening moment for WCU's 1-0 advantage arose in the 78th minute, as the Panthers earned four straight corner kicks in Catamount territory. High Point managed just a single attempt from those opportunities, with Bella Burr's shot deflecting off a WCU defender for another corner.

Pressing for insurance, the Catamounts had two more strong opportunities for goals in the second half, one coming from Gabriela Vatrano in the 75th minute. Vatrano ripped a shot from the top of the box off a quick pass from Maddie Lopez, but McKessy denied the attempt for her third and final save of the day. The final scoring opportunity came off the left foot of Isabella DeMarco, who blasted a shot from outside the top of the box, but the attempt careened off the crossbar.

Outside of Goclowski, Isabella DeMarco led the Catamounts in shots with two. Milla Syska, Madison Gellner, Emma Soucy, and Gabriela Vatrano each took a single shot apiece, but Soucy and Vatrano were the only two to put theirs on target.

Catamount Notables:

• The Catamounts posted their first shutout of the season to maintain an unblemished 4-0-2 record against the High Point Panthers in the all-time, head-to-head series;
• Sofia Goclowski's 6th-minute goal was the seventh and the third game-winner of her career;
• Isabella DeMarco's assist on Goclowski's marker was her first of the season. The outstanding senior is only four assists away from tying the program record for career assists. She is also just 34 shots and nine shots on goal away from the record in those categories;
• Leanne Trudel's shutout was her 24th all-time, leaving her just four away from tying the program record held by Caitlin Williams (28, 2007-10);
• Canadian-born sophomore midfielder Erika Gariepy made her first career start in Sunday afternoon's victory as head coach Chad Miller shuffled the starting lineup slightly;
• Trudel, Abbie Wise, Samantha Whitaker, Rylie Niemeyer, and Mary Muth were the only Catamounts to go the distance in the match. Ava Robitaille was the only non-defender to record 65+ minutes in the victory, seeing the pitch for 67 total minutes of game action.

Up Next for The Catamounts:

Western Carolina closes out a three-match homestand on Thursday, Aug. 31, as the Catamounts host the Georgia Southern Eagles at the Catamount Athletic Complex. Fans are encouraged to wear gold for "Golden Goal Night" for the 6 p.m. start against the former Southern Conference foe. The Eagles opened the season with a 3-2 win over Samford, but most recently fell 4-1 to Jacksonville.

Following Thursday's match, the Catamounts then hit the road to battle the Lipscomb Bison on August 24 for a 2 p.m. tilt in Nashville, Tenn.