Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer returns home on Sunday, Oct. 11, to honor another outstanding class of seniors as the Catamounts host The Citadel in Southern Conference action on Senior Day. Kickoff with the Bulldogs at the on-campus Catamount Athletics Complex is currently set for 2 p.m., with a special pregame ceremony honoring the seven members of the senior class.
Fans are encouraged to stay on the lookout for potential game-time updates on social media due to the impact of Hurricane Isaias.
Seniors Ovella Ariail, Maddie Lopez, Mackenzie Megill, Mary Mueth, Emma Soucy, Malia Roberts, and Samantha Whitaker will be honored in the pregame ceremony, beginning around 1:45 p.m.
Sunday's match will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available through CatamountSports.com.
Sunday's Matchup:
Western Carolina (3-8-2, SoCon 1-3-1) vs. The Citadel (6-3-4, SoCon 1-2-2)
Oct. 11, 2026 | Cullowhee, N.C. | 2 p.m. | Catamount Athletic Complex
Watch on ESPN
Follow along with the Live Stats
This Week Around The Southern Conference (10/11/26):
ETSU at VMI (Lexington, Va.) | 1 p.m.
The Citadel at Western Carolina (Cullowhee, N.C.) | 2 p.m.
Quick Cuts:
The Catamounts and Bulldogs meet for the 26th time in series history, with WCU holding a 22-1-2 record all-time. WCU is amidst a 15-match unbeaten streak, earning 14 wins over The Citadel since a 2-1 loss in Cullowhee in 2010. The Catamounts have outscored The Citadel 86-14 all-time and have won the last six matchups played at the Catamount Athletic Complex.
The Catamounts enter the weekend matchup after most recently falling on the road at Chattanooga, 5-0. Before the weekend setback against the Mocs, the Catamounts had lit the scoreboard in their last four matches, including a pair of goals at home against Samford and ETSU.
The Citadel comes to Cullowhee winless in its last four with a pair of losses and two draws, putting a damper on their 6-1-2 start to the season. The Bulldogs have been held scoreless in three of their five SoCon matches so far this season, falling in shutout losses to Chattanooga and Furman and posting a scoreless draw with Mercer.
The two squads have faced three common opponents this season, with both teams recording wins over Winthrop and falling to Chattanooga. The Catamounts posted a 4-2 win over Winthrop in the season opener, with The Citadel notching a 1-0 victory midway through the nonconference schedule.
Players to Watch:
Gabriela Vatrano has led the Catamounts with three goals. WCU's attack in conference play has been split by Vatrano, Mackenzie Megill, and Caroline Simpkins, who have each netted one goal against SoCon foes. Darien Vita leads the team in shot attempts in the conference slate, taking 12 and putting six attempts on frame, though she is still searching for her first career goal.
Amara Yetka and Elizabeth Rupert split time in net during WCU's loss to Chattanooga, with Rupert taking over for Yetka in the 22nd minute. Yetka has started WCU's last four matches, with Rupert starting WCU's SoCon opening match vs. UNCG. The duo has combined for 63 saves and a .708 save percentage this season, with Yetka posting 49 saves and a .710 mark by herself.
The Citadel has been led this season by the dynamic duo of Samantha Grantham and Jasiah Pack, who have posted eight and seven goals this season, respectively. They both have 19 points and are responsible for 78 of The Citadel's 193 shots and 52 of the team's 104 shots on goal. However, the Bulldog duo found most of their success in the nonconference season, posting only one goal each against SoCon competition.
Defensively, Zoe Santos has manned the net for the Bulldogs most of the season, collecting 64 saves and recording a .762 save percentage. Santos has conceded 14 goals this season, nine of which have come in SoCon play.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Following the lone weekend match, Western Carolina hits the final stretch of the 2026 campaign. The Catamounts travel to Lexington, Va., on Oct. 15 for a 3 p.m. match against VMI, before hosting back-to-back matches against Mercer (Oct. 23) and Tennessee Tech (Oct. 29).
The Catamounts conclude the 2026 regular season on Nov. 1, visiting Furman in Greenville, S.C. before the 2026 SoCon Women's Soccer Championship begins on Nov. 6.
