CLINTON, S.C. - Sara Simpson (Columbia, S.C.) provided the goal and Sarah Beth Anderson (Grayson, Ga.) provided the saves in a season finale to remember for the Presbyterian College women's soccer team as the Blue Hose shut out High Point on Senior Night, 1-0.
PC ends the year at 4-13-2 overall and 2-6-2 in Big South Conference play. High Point falls to 8-9-3 on the year and 6-2-2 in league action.
The Blue Hose earn their first win in a season finale since a 1-0 victory over Charleston Southern on November 1, 2008.
In a tale of two halves, Simpson scored the game's only goal when she put PC on the scoreboard in the 30th minute. Positioned in the goal box, Simpson attempted a shot that struck the right post. The sophomore tracked down the rebound and cashed in from in close to give PC the lead on her team-leading fourth goal of the season.
The Blue Hose controlled the run of play in the first half, holding the Panthers without a shot on goal while tallying five of their own.
The second half told a different story as High Point shook off a slow start and began to find scoring chances. The Panthers tested PC 10 times in the second half and the senior stopped every shot, racking up nine saves to add to her single-season and career records. Anderson ends the year with a record 114 saves for the season and 296 for her career, the most in program history. The clean sheet also marked the ninth of her career.
Anderson's most spectacular save came on a Katie Taber shot midway through the second half. Taber launched a rocket from outside the box and Anderson made a diving save to her right to knock the ball out of bounds and keep the Panthers scoreless.
Senior defender Jessica Kramer (Acworth, Ga.) also contributed a timely defensive play for the Blue Hose. High Point's Becca Hemby took a shot at an open portion of net during a scramble in the box but Kramer blocked the attempt on the goal line to keep the shutout intact.
PC withstood the pressure as the time wound down and Gracie Bowell (Simpsonville, S.C.) put a shot on net in the 85th minute while looking for an insurance score. Anderson then made two more saves after the Blue Hose chance to help PC seal the win, 1-0.
Simpson lead the team with four shots on the night. Simpson, Boswell and Lauren Snyder (North Augusta, S.C.) each posted two shots on goal.
The team honored seniors Anderson, Kramer, Snyder and Morgan Fragapane (Baltimore, Md.) prior to the start of the match.
