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Katelynn Donovan scored twice as UNCG took sole possession of first place in
the Southern Conference with a 2-0 win over Western Carolina on Friday night.
The Spartans lead Western Carolina and Davidson, which lost at College of
Charleston in overtime Friday, by a point in the SoCon standings.
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GREENSBORO, NC Katelynn Donovan scored her sixth and seventh goals of the season in the first 18:18 of the match as UNC Greensboro defeated Western Carolina, 2-0, in a top of the standings Southern Conference women's soccer battle Friday night.
The win was the 100th in the career of UNCG coach Eddie Radwanski. In his eighth season at UNCG, he is now 100-56-10 as the coach of the Spartans.
With the win, UNCG raised its record to 9-4-1 overall and 4-0-1 (13 points) in the conference.
Western Carolina, which had won five straight matches all by shutout, dropped to 7-6-0 overall and 4-1-0 (12 points) in the SoCon, falling from the top of the standings. In addition, Davidson lost at College of Charleston in overtime, 1-0, to suffer its first conference loss. The Wildcats are also 4-1-0 in the league.
Donovan, a senior from Melville, NY, scored at 8:27 give UNCG a 1-0 lead. Nicole Danford played a ball from the left side down the end line. Donovan got the ball on the doorstep, studder-stepped and then popped the ball into the right side of the goal.
Donovan struck again at 18:18 with a shot from the top right corner of the box. Jen Bronson threw the ball in at the feet of Donovan. Donovan dribbled twice, seeing the defense was playing off of her, and struck a perfectly placed ball just inside the left post for a 2-0 lead.
That was all Kelsey Kearney needed to record her fourth straight shutout, while the Spartans snapped a 415-minute scoreless string for the Catamounts' keeper Caitlin Williams. Kearney, a freshman from Durham, NC has not allowed a goal in her last five appearances going back to September 19th, when she gave up three to Wake Forest. Kearned has not allowed a goal in her last 452:27 of action. The product of Durham Academy lowered her goals against average to 0.63 and bettered her save percentage to .860 with two stops on the night.
UNCG outshot Western Carolina, 14-7, including a 9-3 first half advantage when the Spartans were pressuring the Catamounts. Western Carolina adjusted in the second half and the shots were 5-4 in favor of UNCG.
The Spartans, owners of a 25-game unbeaten streak in SoCon regular season play, return to action on Sunday when they face Appalachian State on the road at 3:30 pm.
AGATE
SCORE BY PERIODS
WESTERN CAROLINA..0..0..-0
UNCG..2..0..-2
Scoring: UNCG Donovan (Danford) 8:27; UNCG Donovan (Bronson) 18:18. Shots: Western Carolina 7, UNCG 14. Saves: Western Carolina 5 (Williams 5), UNCG 2 (Kearney 2). Corner kicks: Western Carolina 2, UNCG 3. Fouls: Western Carolina 10, UNCG 4.
- UNCG -
