ASHEVILLE, N.C. – For the second consecutive match involving the Presbyterian College women's soccer team, a calm 0-0 score was turned on its head in the latter stages as PC dealt the first blow against UNC Asheville on Saturday night but ultimately fell by a 3-1 count.
Sophomore
Maddie Smith bounced in a close-range goal in the 51
st minute for her fifth score of the semester, although the highest-scoring team in the Big South backed up that statistic by quickly gaining the lead.
It took seven matches this year for anyone to print three goals on the Blue Hose, unable to pick up the win in the conference opener against a sound opponent.
Head coach
Matt Smith will send his squad back to Clinton next Wednesday for the second of eight games against Big South foes, entertaining Gardner-Webb for a 7:00 start on ESPN+.
FINAL SCORE: UNC Asheville, 3 – Presbyterian, 1
RECORDS: Presbyterian (2-4-1)…UNC Asheville (4-3-3)
LOCATION: Greenwood Soccer Field (Asheville, N.C.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- PC's headstrong defense competed to a 0-0 halftime score for the fourth consecutive game, also drawing that same tally against North Dakota State, Furman, and most recently Kennesaw State.
- Both parties were quiet on the attacking end with four shots apiece in the first 45 minutes, while dueling goalkeepers
Alexa Garcia and London Phoenix each grabbed a pair of saves during that window.
- The drama picked up shortly after intermission, with Smith providing the game's first score. Julija Poplašen attempted a shot from the left side of the box, hitting the high post and bouncing straight up. Smith beat the keeper to the ball after it settled to put the Blue Hose ahead.
- Presby's lead would last a little over 15 minutes until Asheville's Lili Adams drained a free kick to bring the match back to an even mark. The Bulldogs suddenly hit again less than two minutes later to wrestle away the advantage.
- Now behind 2-1 with 23 minutes left, PC scattered two shots from
Ella Duncan and
Nanna Niva to no avail. UNC Asheville delivered the match-clinching strike at 86:26.
- Shots-on-goal favored the home side by an 8-3 margin, as Garcia closed the evening with five saves.
Sydney Stoner and
Lyla Chadd played the full 90 in the Big South curtain-jerker, while sophomore
Maddi Merryweather was subbed out for only the last 45 seconds of the opening stanza.
