Western Carolina Soccer Blanks Gardner-Webb 3-0 Sunday

Denise Gideon

WCU Athletics

Western Carolina women’s soccer blanked Gardner-Webb 3-0 Sunday at Greene-Harbison Stadium. It was the first shutout of the season for the Catamounts. 

How it Happened

  • Just over five minutes into the match Western Carolina jumped out to the early lead when graduate transfer Valentine Pursey notched her first goal as a Catamount. Freshman Kirsten Hahn sent a pass from the right corner of the goal right in front of Purey who sent the ball into the goal.
  • Hahn scored the second goal of the match in the 35th minute. She got a step on the Gardner-Webb defender on the left side of the goal and skirted the ball just past the Runnin’ Bulldog goalkeeper as she dove down low and the ball went right above her.  
  • In the 79th minute, Amber Van Den Berg’s corner kick went into the box and Payton Creed headed the ball into the goal. 

Individual Leaders:

  • Hahn had an assist and goal in the match. 
  • Junior goal keeper Melody Mezzina started in goal for the first time this season, missing the first three matches due to injury. She earned the win and picked up the shutout. She had one save in the match. 
  • Pursey and Creed scored their first goals of the season. 

Inside the Box Score

  • The Catamounts had 12 shots in the match with eight on goal. 
  • Gardner-Webb had a total of four shots in the match, three in the first half and one in the second. The Runnin’ Bulldogs lone shot in the second half came with two minutes left in the contest.
  • WCU took its first penalty kick of the season. Pursey took the PK but it was saved by Runnin’ Bulldog goalkeeper Katelyn Kellog.  
  • A total of five yellow cards were handed out in the match; two to the Catamounts and three to Gardner-Webb. 

News & Notes:

  • Hahn’s goal in the first half was her second of the season. 
  • The Catamounts scored a season-high three goals in the match. 
  • Western Carolina is now 2-0 after a loss in the young season. 
  • The 3-0 win over Gardner-Webb marked the first shutout of the year for the Catamounts.
  • Mezzina’s shutout, in goal, was the ninth of her Catamount career. 
  • Pursey’s goal was the first as a Catamount and 28th of her career as she had 27 goals as a four-year player at Indiana University and Purdue University prior to transferring to Western Carolina. 
  • The Catamount victory at Gardner-Webb was WCU’s first road win of the season.

UPCOMING:

  • Western Carolina completes its three-match road swing at 7 p.m. Thursday at Davidson. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.