Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina women's soccer team hits the road for the first time in 2025 as they are set to battle the Lipscomb Bisons on Sunday (Aug. 24). The bout between the reigning ASUN and Southern Conference champions is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT in Nashville, Tenn.
Sunday's matchup will be livestreamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
Sunday's Matchup:
Western Carolina (1-2-0, SoCon 0-0-0) at Lipscomb Bisons (2-0-0, ASun 0-0-0)
Nashville, Tenn. | 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT | Lipscomb Soccer Complex
Watch (ESPN+): https://tinyurl.com/59nprsky
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/y3np7j6x
Quick Cuts:
The Catamounts and Bisons have played a handful of times since beginning the series in 2013, with WCU trailing in the overall series 1-2-1. The most recent matchup between the two was a 2-1 overtime loss for the Catamounts in Cullowhee in 2017. WCU is still searching for its first win in Nashville, falling in the first match at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex in 2014, 1-0, before battling to a 1-1 double overtime draw in 2015. The Catamounts claimed a 2-0 victory in the first match in 2013, which remains the only multi-score victory by either team in the series.
The two teams are among the winningest teams in the NCAA Division I ranks over the last two seasons, with Lipscomb carrying a 28-9-5 record while the Catamounts boast a 28-8-6 mark of their own.
Western Carolina (1-2) enters Sunday's matchup after three consecutive one-goal games, with losses to a pair of Sun Belt teams (3-2 L vs App State, 1-0 L vs Georgia Southern) and a 1-0 victory over the High Point Panthers. The three goals scored by the Catamounts in as many games are the fewest since a three-game, three-goal stretch back in 2023 (2-1 L vs UT Martin, 1-1 T vs Georgia State, 5-0 L vs #11 Clemson), though offensive opportunities have been frequent. The Catamounts lead the Southern Conference in shots (49) and shots on target (21), and their three goals are tied for the second-most in the league.
The Bisons ride into Sunday's match at 2-0-0 on the season, with wins over future Southern Conference member Tennessee Tech (2-0) and Murray State (2-1). Lipscomb hasn't lost a home match since a high-scoring 3-2 decision favoring Central Arkansas in late September last season. The last nonconference home loss for the Bisons came at the hands of the then 7th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a 3-1 match in 2023.
Players to Watch:
The Catamounts have consistently produced offensive pressure, thanks to the play of Sofia Goclowski, Milla Syska, and Isabella DeMarco. The trio has combined for 27 of WCU's 49 total shots and 10 of the team's 21 shots on goal. Goclowski has been particularly productive to open the season, taking at least three shots in all three of WCU's matches so far. Gabriela Vatrano has been effective in limited playing time this season as well, taking three shots with two on goal. Vatrano was a mere fingertip away from notching the game-tying goal against Georgia Southern, but is still on the hunt for her first career goal in Purple and Gold.
Newcomers Addison Davis and Kylie White earned significant minutes against Georgia Southern, with the former earning playing time on a Catamount defensive formation that was battered and bruised in the matchup. Davis recorded a season-high 58 minutes, substituting in for Samantha Whitaker, Abbie Wise, and Rylie Niemeyer. Kylie White saw 45 minutes of game action in the matchup as well, taking her first career shot and shot on goal for the Catamounts.
The Bisons field a relatively well-distributed attack, with no individual player taking more than six shots so far this season. Veteran midfielder Maddy Rhodes leads the team with six and is one of four players to record a goal already. Defensively, the stalwart sophomore Kaine Cesar mans the posts for the Bisons after an outstanding freshman campaign a year ago. Cesar recorded a .75 GAA last season, allowing 12 in 17 appearances. She's conceded only one goal this season and has five saves in her two full games.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Western Carolina remains on the road in a midweek matchup, visiting ACC foe NC State on August 27, battling the Wolfpack at 6 p.m. in Raleigh. The Catamounts return home on Sunday, Aug. 31 as part of First Bank First Weekend, celebrating "Beach Night" and hosting nationally-ranked Tennessee at 6 p.m. The first 300 fans through the gates will receive a FREE pair of WCU Malibu sunglasses, courtesy of First Bank.
