Box Score Game Stats
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The women’s soccer team began their three day visit to Charleston Friday evening with a match versus The Citadel. The Terriers gave up two goals early to the No. 2 ranked team in the Southern Conference. Wofford clawed back from the two-goal deficit and was able to score a goal in the second half. Coach Kiah’s team continued to press hard in the second half, having a few threatening opportunities, but the Bulldogs were able to hold on to their one goal advantage in the end, winning 2-1. The Terriers drop to a 6-6-4 regular season, with a 1-4-4 standing in the Southern Conference. The Citadel improves to an 11-5-1 overall record and posts a 7-2 record in the Southern Conference.
The Citadel jumped to an early lead in the first half, scoring in the first three minutes. The Citadel’s Nicole Levermann pushed a ball up the middle of the field to Nicole Marinoli, who took the ball in and scored at the 3:28 mark. The score gave the Bulldog her second goal of the season and put The Citadel up 1-0.
Nearly 15 minutes later, the Bulldogs put their second score on the board. The Citadel’s Mariana Garcia took a ball on the foot off a deflection near the Wofford goal. She took advantage of the opportunity, scoring her ninth goal of the season and giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage. Garcia’s nine goals puts the freshman cadet at the top spot for goals scored for her team.
The Terriers presented their best offensive attack in the 26th minute, pressing forward three attempts on The Citadel’s net. Nikki Siebert started the string of offensive pressure with a shot attempt at the 26:21 mark. She nailed her shot toward the Bulldog goal, but it was blocked by the body of a Citadel player. Alex Kachulis took the rebound and immediately shot again, only to have her shot clink off the crossbar and away from danger. Siebert was able to regain control of the ball seconds later, and forced another shot toward the net. Her shot ended up with the same result, being blocked by a Citadel defender. Despite the push, the Terriers trailed The Citadel 2-0 going into halftime.
After taking the field for the second half, the Terriers continued their offensive pressure from late in the first half. In the 55th minute Wofford was awarded a corner kick. Megan Polson took the corner, lifting the ball into the box. Chelsea Ashworth was able to knock the corner kick into the net, giving the Terriers their first goal. The score gives Ashworth her third goal of the season, and gives Polson her first assist as a Terrier.
With renewed spirits, Wofford looked to grab the tying goal to send the game into overtime. Wofford had shots by Ashworth, Emily Bougas, Cozzarelli, and Bougas, but each attempt seemed to fall just short. With only a minute remaining, Wofford put their final attempts toward the net. Cozzarelli fired a shot at the 88:43 mark, only to have it blocked. Bougas picked up the rebound and shot, with her shot ending up being blocked as well. She fought to get the ball back as the seconds trickled away, and the freshman lined a shot toward the keeper with 57 seconds left, but The Citadel’s Whitney Nave was able to grab the save.
At the end of regulation, The Citadel held on to their one goal lead and won 2-1.
Wofford tallied 13 total shots, with five being on frame. Kimberly Cohn was able to grab three saves. Wofford was led in shots by Siebert (3). Ashworth totaled two points on the game with her goal, and the sophomore attempted two shots during the match.
The Terriers stay in Charleston for the next two days, with their next match being against College of Charleston, Sunday, October 24th. The two programs will face-off at 1:00pm.
