GREENVILLE, SC – The UNC Greensboro women's soccer team scored a goal in each half as the Spartans advanced to the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament with their 2-0 blanking of Chattanooga. UNCG will take on host Furman on Friday at 7:30 pm.
The Spartans are undefeated in SoCon Tournament matches played at Furman's Stone Stadium, improving their record to 7-0 all-time. UNCG captured SoCon Tournament titles in 1998 and 2001, the only two previous times the postseason event was held at Furman.
UNCG (11-6-1) cracked the scoreboard midway through the first half as a trio of Spartans hooked up for the game's first score. Senior Nicollette DeLaine dribbled down the right side of the field and sent a service to the feet of Deven Beachum inside the Lady Moc box. Beachum collected the ball and flicked it on to Amy Carnell who put a seven yard shot past Chattanooga (8-11-0) keeper Stacey Matthiessen to give the Spartans a 1-0 advantage in the 21st minute.
Despite only taking four shots in the opening stanza, the Spartans' goal was Carnell's team-leading 21st point of the season and DeLaine's team-best 11th assist.
Sophomore Mary Kate Towne extended the UNCG lead to 2-0 in the 61st minute when she connected for her fourth score of the season off a feed from fellow sophomore Karla Davis. Towne flicked in a header just inside the Lady Moc box past the diving Matthiessen following a Davis throw in from the left side of the field.
From that point on, the Spartans used one of the league's leading defenses to control Chattanooga's offensive attack. The Lady Mocs managed only two second half shots, never really mustering any realistic scoring opportunity. For the game, the Spartans held an 11-5 shot advantage and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
In goal, senior keeper Jennifer Stillman collected her seventh shutout of the season as the Randolph, NJ product recorded five saves. Stillman now owns 25 career shutouts, a school record she set earlier in the season.
UNCG returns to action Friday evening at 7:30 pm when the Spartans take on No. 2 seed Furman, who beat seventh-seeded Wofford 4-0 in the final game on Thursday. Earlier in the day, first-seeded Davidson downed No. 8 seed Elon 2-0, while No. 4 seed Western Carolina advanced to the second round with a 2-1 overtime win over fifth-seeded College of Charleston.
AGATE
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Chattanooga......... 0 0 0
UNC Greensboro...... 1 1 2
SCORING SUMMARY
1. 20:29 UNCG Amy Carnell (6) (Deven Beachum; Nicollette DeLaine)
2. 60:55 UNCG Mary Kate Towne (4) (Karla Davis)
Shots: Chattanooga 5, UNC Greensboro 11
Saves: Chattanooga 4 (Stacey Matthiessen 4), UNC Greensboro 5 (Jennifer Stillman 5)
- UNCG -
