BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – The four-seeded UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's soccer team was outlasted by the second-seeded Samford Bulldogs 6-5 in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon at Shauna Yelton Field in the 2022 Southern Conference (SoCon) Women's Soccer Championship game.
Seniors
Eliza Radoll and
Maddy Gilhool, along with junior
Dalani Stephens were selected to the 2022 SoCon Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team.
This was the third time in six years that the Spartans have reached the championship game. This will be the 12
th overall appearance in the SoCon Championship for UNCG, where eight of the 12 appearances resulted in a title.
How it Happened:
The first half saw a number of opportunities for Samford as the Spartans settled into a defensive battle. Three minutes into the match, the Bulldogs had their best chance, but freshman goalkeeper Emma Malone dove to the left stopping the Bulldogs' Nikki Bario's penalty kick attempt. Samford continued its high pressure as another shot was later drilled towards the top of the net, but Malone leapt to make the save, punching the ball out for one of the Bulldogs' 16 corners.
The Spartan defense stood strong for the first 45 minutes as Samford put 10 shots on the board and Malone saved the five put on frame. UNCG took four shots in the first half but had a number of other opportunities.
The second half was comprised of end-to-end soccer with every inch of the pitch seeing the ball. The most dangerous opportunity for Samford was an upper-90 shot, where Malone made another save.
Caroline Woods sent in the Spartans' best opportunity just moments after entering the match when she created space from her defender and sent a strong strike just wide of the Samford goalkeeper.
Samford totaled six shots total during the first and second overtime periods to send the game into penalty kicks.
The two teams were tied at two goals apiece in the shootout after each squad had five attempts. Each side made its sixth, seventh and eighth attempts to take the shootout into a ninth round. Caroline Donovan made her shot for Samford to force UNCG to make its attempt to keep the match going. The Spartans sent
Hannah Morton out to keep the game alive, but Donley was able to make a diving save a secure the victory for the Bulldogs.
By the Numbers:
- Malone made a career-high of eight saves, giving her 28 total in her first season with the Spartans.
- Samford outshot UNCG 29-7.
- UNCG recorded three corner kicks to the Bulldogs 16.
- This marks the Spartans third time in six years reaching the SoCon championship game.
Records:
UNCG: 10-7-4, 4-3-2 SoCon
Samford: 11-3-7, 5-1-3 SoCon
Season Wrap Up:
The Spartans finished up their season with a 10-7-4 overall record and 4-3-2 in SoCon play. UNCG recorded seven shutouts this season with 16 Spartans recording at least one point.
UNCG allowed only 25 goals in its 21-game season with 1.17 per game. The Spartans came in third in the SoCon standings for shutouts with seven total, and fifth for saves having 76.
2022 SoCon Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Grace Duncan, The Citadel
Sydney Somogyi, ETSU
Helen Gutierrez, Furman
Lindsay Bell, Mercer
Jamie Hlebec, Mercer
Dalani Stephens, UNCG
Eliza Radoll, UNCG
Maddy Gilhool, UNCG
Emma Donley, Samford
Carolina Donovan, Samford
Ella Simpson, Samford
Whitaker Buchanan, Samford
Shelby Hash, Chattanooga
Caroline Richvalsky, Chattanooga
Jillian Hall, VMI
Kaitlyn Galbraith, Western Carolina
Lexi Reichenbach, Wofford
Most Outstanding Player
Emma Donley, Samford
Pinnacle Award (highest cumulative GPA among championship-eligible student-athletes on winning team)
Mary Raymond, Samford
