GREENSBORO, N.C. – Western Carolina used an own goal at 32:35 of the first half and then held off UNCG to slip past the Spartans, 1-0, in Southern Conference women's soccer action from a rain-soaked UNCG Soccer Stadium Friday night.
With the win, the Catamounts up its record to 4-2-1 (2-0-1 SoCon), while UNCG falls to (4-5-0, 1-2-0 SoCon).
“You can say what you want, but in the end, we did not get the result,” said head coach Eddie Radwanski. “It does not matter if you come up short on the scoreboard. That is all that matters.”
UNCG controlled play throughout the match, but was not able to get on the scoreboard. The Spartans' best chance of the opening half came off the right foot of Rakel Logad?ttir (So./ Hafnarfjordur, Iceland). Logad?ttir beat two Western Carolina defenders, then ripped a blast from 25 yards out that beat Catamount goalkeeper Mandi Tinsley, but glanced off the post.
The Catamounts' lone goal came when an attempted cross deflected off of Jennifer Kennedy past a helpless Angie Rudy (Sr./Doylestown, Pa.).
The Spartans created a couple other first-half scoring opportunities, but Tinsley was equal to the task. The senior netminder made three saves before intermission.
Trailing by a goal, UNCG was forced to push more players into the attack throughout the second stanza. The Catamounts did manage to counter attack and nearly pushed the lead to 2-0. Jordan Howell went in alone of Spartan goalkeeper Jennifer Stillman (Fr./Randolph, N.J.). Howell beat Stillman, but Jennifer Kennedy (Sr./Summerfield, N.C.) saved her shot off the line. Natasha Moore followed up with a blast that Stillman deflected out of danger.
The Spartans continued to push forward, but Tinsley kept them scoreless. UNCG out shot the Catamounts, 20-7, but Tinsley registered eight saves to pick up her third shutout of the season.
UNCG, which lost at Appalachian State last weekend, dropped its second straight match in conference play. The Spartans had not previously dropped back-to-back league matches since the 1999 season.
UNCG must now focus its attention on Sunday's match with Chattanooga. The Lady Mocs have never beaten the Spartans, but enter this contest as one of the most improved squad's in the SoCon. Kick-off at UNCG Soccer Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
- UNCG -
