Box Score Related LinksBox Score (PDF)Cumulative Team Stats ASHEVILLE, N.C. – An 88th-minute goal from senior midfielder Maureen Buff pushed the Wofford College women's soccer team to a 3-2 win over UNC Asheville Friday night. The win makes the team 3-0 to start for the first time since the 2011 season.
Buff led the team in dramatic fashion, finishing her fourth goal of the season on a cross from sophomore forward Alex Hoots with just two minutes to spare. The goal was Buff's 14th of her career, moving her to the 10th-highest goal scorer in Wofford College women's soccer history.
The matchup was fairly even, as both teams fought hard to try and gain an advantage. The Terriers led in the shooting column 13-11, and had six corners to the Bulldogs five.
Keeper Kara Boggs logged four saves in the 90 minutes, advancing to 3-0-0 in goal, while Asheville's Heather Muller dropped to 2-1-0 on the season.
The Terriers began the match getting a feel for the Bulldogs, as both sides showed little action in the first five minutes. Wofford started pressing the tempo in the seventh minute, taking their first shot. Senior midfielder Maureen Buff outsmarted two defenders before passing to senior forward Annika Jansson. Jansson struck the ball, but Muller kept the team at bay.
Twenty-two minutes later, Jansson found her stride. After multiple attempts for the Terriers, LaFontant took a shot that was blocked senior Megan Forester out of bounds for a corner kick. Sophomore Katherine Whisenhunt took the corner that was then sent astray by an Asheville defender. Jansson found the ball and struck it from just outside the box, finding the back of the net.
UNC Asheville was quick to respond. Five minutes later, the Bulldogs' Caroline Houser received a through ball from the defense. Senior Mary Kathryn Macklen slid in to try and stop the ball but was beat. Houser lifted the goal into the right side of the net past a diving Kara Boggs.
Wofford wasted no time regaining the lead. In the 37th minute, LaFontant beat two defenders in the box before sending a low cross to freshman Katie Beuerline on the other side. Beuerline kicked the ball past Muller for her first goal of the season. The Terriers would ride out the half with a 2-1 advantage.
The second half opened with heavy pushes for both sides. Both teams made efforts on goal until Asheville found the equalizer in the 54th minute. A Wofford foul led to a free kick from Amanda Dailor, who lifted the ball just around the Terriers' four-person wall, and Kaitlyn Eckert beat Kara Boggs low and away.
The Bulldogs had their best chance to win in the 83rd minute when forward Brooke Miller sent a shot just over the crossbar, four minutes before Buff's game-winner.
The Terriers have Saturday off before taking on the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina on Sunday in Conway, S.C. The match begins at 2 p.m.
