Cullowhee, N.C. – Despite a tremendous offensive effort that produced 30 total shots with 15 on frame, the Western Carolina women's soccer team was held off the scoreboard in suffering a 1-0 loss to the Furman Paladins Friday night at the Catamount Athletics Complex.

WCU is now 5-4-3 on the season and 1-1-1 in SoCon play, while the Paladins climb to an 8-1-2 mark and are 2-0-1 in conference matches.

The Catamounts put up pressure throughout the match, with Gabriela Vatrano posting the first shot just 17 seconds into the night. WCU outshot Furman 5-2 over the first 15 minutes, before the Catamounts were awarded a penalty try in the 21st minute.

Sofia Goclowski attempted the first penalty kick of her career, but Reese Dejong – who enjoyed a career night with 15 saves in the shutout victory – denied the kick and collected the ball to prevent a rebound goal. Goclowski's penalty try sparked a three-minute flurry as the Catamounts took three corner kicks and attempted three shots, including another near goal as Goclowski blasted a shot off the crossbar bar though the Catamounts were unable to break through.

The two teams combined for six more shots in the final 21 minutes of the first half as the match remained scoreless at the break.  

The Paladins broke the stalemate with a goal midway through the second half, with Jessica Mattson giving Maddie Massie space to put a shot on net and over the gloves of Leanne Trudel in the 63rd minute. The Catamounts nearly had an equalizer off an Isabella DeMarco redirection in the 65th minute, but the shot sailed high for a goal kick.

WCU outshot the Paladins 10-1 down the stretch, putting five shots on frame in the final 20 minutes. The Catamounts led in every major statistical category outside of goals scored and saves, outshooting the Paladins 30-12, putting 15 shots on goal to Furman's five and taking 12 corner kicks to Furman's four.  

Catamount Notables:

• The Catamounts are 5-4-3 on the season and 1-1-1 in SoCon play ... the home loss to the Paladins is the first home conference loss for WCU since dropping a 2-1 contest to Furman back in 2023.  
• Following WCU's 2-1 loss to Furman in 2023, the Catamounts went 9-2 down the stretch, outscoring opponents 28-5 in a SoCon regular season and tournament championship run.
• WCU is 1-4 at home and has been outscored 8-3 at the Catamount Athletic Complex this season. However, the Catamounts are 4-0-3 on the road and are outscoring opponents 13-7 away from Cullowhee.
• Isabella DeMarco took seven shots, putting three on frame in the loss. DeMarco is now WCU's all-time leader in career shots with 219 and shots on goal with 102.
• Leanne Trudel collected four saves and is only nine away from tying her single-season high mark of 64. Trudel is on pace for 82 saves, averaging 4.5 per outing.
• Gabriela Vatrano recorded her first career start for the Catamounts.

Up Next for The Catamounts:

WCU looks to get back on track at home as it hosts the VMI Keydets on Thursday, Oct. 2, with a 7 p.m. kick. The Catamounts then hit the road to take on The Citadel on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.