CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's soccer team has moved to 3-0 on Senior Night under the
Matt Smith administration, barreling Newberry on Friday evening by a 2-0 margin under the Martin Stadium lights.
One of the four Blue Hose seniors who were recognized in a postgame ceremony,
Emilia Lieber floated in her third career goal just six minutes into the match between old Division II rivals.
Reigning Big South Offensive Player of the Week
Maddie Smith confirmed the victory with a 61
st-minute beauty, sending a packed audience home happy.
Freshman keeper Alexa Garica logged her first shutout in only her second performance, while her supporting defense was sublime in keeping the Wolves away from the net. PC out-shot Newberry 20-3 over the full match.
The Scotsmen will stray away from home over the next three weeks, taking a long road trip to the Upper Midwest to face the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State on the 27
th and the 30
th.
FINAL SCORE: Presbyterian, 2 – Newberry, 0
RECORDS: Presbyterian (2-0)…Newberry (0-0)
LOCATION: Martin Stadium (Clinton, S.C.)
DEFENSIVE FORTRESS
- The ball stuck to Presbyterian's side of the field for a high portion of Friday's match, leading to a 9-2 shot difference in the first 45 minutes and an 11-1 clip after the break.
- Dating back to the season-opening win over Alabama State, the Blue Hose have not allowed a goal over the last 175 minutes.
Sydney Stoner,
Lyla Chadd,
Cassidy Oldham, and
Peyton Michael played the full 90 against the Wolves.
- In what was the first regular-season meeting between the two teams since 2006 (when Smith was beginning his career as an assistant under Brian Purcell), it took nearly 30 minutes for Newberry to bust out their first shot.
- PC has now collected nine shutouts since Smith took over the position in 2024, including previous Senior Night celebrations against Alabama A&M and Southern Wesleyan.
ONE OF TWO
- Following the Newberry result, Presbyterian is now one of two schools in the Big South who can boast a 2-0 mark (Gardner-Webb is the other). When factoring in ties, they are one of four teams in the league who have yet to take an outright loss (along with USC Upstate and UNC Asheville).
- Four days ago, the Blue Hose became the first conference unit since 2023 to sweep the Big South weekly awards:
Maddie Smith (Offensive), Stoner (Defensive), and
Katy Verdery (Freshman).
- PC achieved their second W thanks to Lieber's penalty kick in the early moments, a situation that was created after a handball in the attacking zone.
- Smith's score (her third of the new year already) was a certified gem: dribbling the ball roughly 20 yards away from the net, beating her defender in one-on-one, and curving a high shot over a second opponent and All-South Atlantic Conference goalie Madison Gutierrez.
