CULLOWHEE, N.C. - After dropping their SoCon opener at ETSU earlier in the week, UNCG women's soccer bounced back this Sunday in Cullowhee, turning in a convincing 2-0 shutout victory over Western Carolina. The Spartans doubled up on the Catamounts in both shots and shots on goal, while tallies from Ashley Avelino and Caroline Woods delivered the UNCG win.

The field was tilted the Spartans' way early with winger Jordin Mosley nearly putting UNCG ahead in the opening 10 minutes. She reeled off a pair of shots on goal in the early stages as UNCG managed to outshoot its opponents 6-2 in the opening 17 minutes, and forced the Catamount keeper to make four saves before the midway point of the first half. Two days removed from tallying the first assist of her career, forward Hannah Morton nearly had her first collegiate goal during the 40th minute, but her attempt would bang off the woodwork. 

While it took almost the entire opening 45 minutes, the Spartans' offensive pressure would eventually break through right before the halftime whistle when Avelino tallied her second goal of the weekend. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, the Spartans earned a corner kick opportunity, taken by Rachel Rouse. With UNCG pushing both of their centerbacks up for the last second opportunity, defender Eliza Radoll won the header on Rouse's delivery but was unable to aim the ball on frame as it floated to Avelino. With time winding down in the half and her back to goal, Avelino did all she could do to get an attempt on frame, back-heeling a ball over the Catamount defense. Her shot not only went on target but took the WCU keeper off guard, crossing the goalline before a save attempt could be made.

UNCG immediately went back on the offensive in the second half, looking to double their lead as quickly as possible. The Spartans turned four attempts at net in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, with freshman Caroline Woods finding her first tally in a Spartan uniform. 

After Quiqui Hita saw her shot blocked by the Western Carolina defense, the deflected ball came to the top of the 18 for Woods who took her shot first time. The first-year forward didn't give the Catamount keeper a chance, with her left-footed shot curling into the upper-left 90 in the 60th minute. 

The UNCG defense was able to hold off WCU for the remainder of the match, with Spartan keeper Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper being asked to come up with two saves in the final 18 minutes. Nicole Souply nearly had her team's third marker after her shot banged off the crossbar in the 82nd, but the Spartans' second clean sheet of the year ensured that their two tallies would be enough to take home the afternoon win.

>>> Avelino's first goal of the weekend against ETSU was the first of her career with her finish against WCU going down as her second. She's been responsible for two of her team's three goals on the year
>>> Souply and Mosley each took three shots on the night with the latter finding the target twice
>>> Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper finished with three saves in her second clean sheet of the past week. She now has 16 on her career, after blanking NC State earlier in the season, putting her in a tie for eighth in program history

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