GREENSBORO, NC Posting its third consecutive home shutout in Southern Conference action, the UNC Greensboro women's soccer team defeated Georgia Southern 3-0 Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. The Spartans have outscored their last three home opponents by a 10-0 tally.
In a contest which was completely controlled by the Spartans (8-5-0, 4-2-0 SoCon), Shannon Donovan opened the Spartan scoring with her second goal of the season in the 29th minute of play. After a Georgia Southern (3-11-1, 2-4-0 SoCon) foul on their end of the field, Donovan took a pass from Emilie Stewart and sent a one touch blast from 25 yards out past GSU keeper Megan Macdonald.
Making her first career start, freshman Becca Voss scored her first career goal in the 32nd minute to extend UNCG's lead to a two goal advantage. Defender Amanda Zimmerman sent a service to the feet of Voss where the Raleigh, NC native beat Macdonald with a shot from over 30 yards out. UNCG fired 16 first half shots and limited the visiting Eagles to but one while also holding a 7-0 edge in corner kicks.
The Spartans added a third goal late in the second half when senior Cara Hammond collected her team-leading fifth goal of the campaign. The Howell, NJ product found the back of the net off a feed from Donovan off another Spartan free kick. From 25 yards out, Donovan sent a ball into the box where Hammond fired a header at new GSU keeper Laura-Ashley Harris. Harris managed to make a blocking save on the ball back into the field of play, but Hammond stuck with the play and this time headed her rebound into the Eagles' net.
UNCG once again completely controlled all the play in the second half as the Spartans connected for 14 shots while allowing just five from GSU. The Spartans outshot Georgia Southern 30-6 for the game and held a 17-1 advantage in corner kicks.
In goal, Katherine Ryan made her third start of the season in goal and collected three saves. The Pittsboro, NC native has recorded shutouts in two of her three games started. In UNCG's 2-1 loss to Old Dominion, Ryan went the first 19 minutes of the contest without surrendering a goal before leaving with an injury. The sophomore keeper has now gone 203:01 minutes without allowing a goal.
UNCG returns to action in a week when the Spartans take to the road for an Oct. 23 matchup at Davidson. Game time is slated for 2 pm at Davidson's Alumni Stadium. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern returns home for an Oct. 20 contest with Furman.
AGATE:
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Georgia Southern.... 0 0 - 0
UNC Greensboro...... 2 1 - 3
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 28:55 UNCG Shannon Donovan (2) (Emilie Stewart) - Free kick from 25 yards out
2. 31:23 UNCG Becca Voss (1) (Amanda Zimmerman) - Shot 30 yards out
3. 74:12 UNCG Cara Hammond (5) (Shannon Donovan) - Header of free kick 25 yards out
Shots: Georgia Southern 6, UNC Greensboro 30
Saves: Georgia Southern 12 (Laura-Ashley Harris 7; Megan Macdonald 5),
UNC Greensboro 4 (Katherine Ryan 3; TEAM 1)
- UNCG -
